Omaha, NE: A 10-year-old boy tragically lost his life after being shot at a residence in Omaha. The incident, which occurred near 31st & Myrtle streets on Thanksgiving Day, led to the arrest of the boy’s father, according to the Omaha Police Department. Despite being rushed to the hospital, the child, identified as Kendrick McDonald, passed away.
Authorities have taken into custody 47-year-old Will McDonald, the father of the victim. Charges against him include criminal homicide, unlawful possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and use of a weapon to commit a crime.
Captain Jeremy Christensen from the Omaha Police Department provided details on the devastating event, sharing that multiple witnesses present inside the house during the shooting were taken in for questioning. Investigating the exact sequence of events is ongoing, with police trying to figure out what happened.
Captain Christensen mentioned a car alarm that went off near the scene, suggesting a potential car theft. However, it remains unclear if this incident is connected to the tragic shooting. Christensen says police do not know whether Kendrick’s mother was present and whether Will mistook the 10-year-old for a car thief.
According to Christensen, a handgun was recovered at the scene of the shooting, and other children were in the house at the time. The newspaper Omaha World-Herald reported that Christensen declined to divulge the number of times the child was shot.
The news of a child being killed on Thanksgiving night, followed by the arrest of his father, has deeply saddened the community. Captain Christensen expressed his sorrow, stating, “Anytime anyone is killed, this is extremely tragic. But this is heartbreaking.”
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Kendrick McDonald’s death is continuing as Omaha residents mourn the loss of a young life.