On November 26, 1977, Captain Dennis F. Lipari, a 39-year-old officer with the Douglas County Sheriff's Department in Omaha, Nebraska, was tragically killed in the line of duty. At the time, Captain Lipari was off-duty, dining with his wife and several colleagues at Club 89, a local nightclub. Around 7:36 p.m., a man named Ulysses Cribbs entered the establishment armed with a 12-gauge shotgun and opened fire. Captain Lipari attempted to intervene but was fatally shot.
In total, 25 other individuals, including two deputies, were wounded in the incident.
Ulysses Cribbs, the assailant, was apprehended at the scene. He was later found incompetent to stand trial due to mental illness and was committed to a state hospital. Cribbs had a history of mental health issues and had been receiving psychiatric care from the Veterans Administration prior to the shooting. In September 1977, he purchased the shotgun used in the attack from a Sears store in Bellevue, Nebraska. After purchasing the firearm, Cribbs resumed psychiatric treatment but discontinued it against medical advice in October 1977. The tragic events at Club 89 occurred shortly thereafter.
Captain Lipari's death was a significant loss to the Omaha community and the law enforcement community at large. He had served with the Douglas County Sheriff's Department for ten years and was survived by his wife, six children, and two grandchildren. His wife, Ruth Ann Lipari, was among those injured in the shooting.
The incident at Club 89 highlighted the devastating impact of gun violence and the importance of mental health care. It also underscored the risks law enforcement officers face, even when off-duty, as they often feel compelled to act in the face of danger to protect others. Captain Lipari's bravery and sacrifice are remembered and honored by his family, colleagues, and the community he served.
