Disturbance/Shooting in Barneston, NE

DATE & TIME: 01-31-2017 / 5:13 p.m.

LOCATION: 501 1^st Street, Barneston, Nebraska    

OFFENSE: Disturbance/shooting     

CASE #: 2017-0603

On Tuesday, 01-31-2017, at approximately 5:13 pm, 54-year-old Delbert Bruner of Barneston, Nebraska called 911 to request deputies remove his son, 25-year-old Julius Bruner, from their residence in the 500 block of 1^st Street in Barneston for causing a disturbance in the home.  As deputies were responding to the location, the 911 call was updated to report that Delbert had shot Julius while fighting with him inside the residence.

When the deputies arrived, they had Delbert exit the residence and place the gun on the ground, then they secured him in a patrol vehicle while they searched the house for any other threats and to locate the injured Julius.  The deputies located Julius on the bed in Delbert’s bedroom suffering from a gunshot wound to his abdomen.

Ambulances from Wymore Volunteer Fire Department and the Beatrice Fire Department were called to the scene and transported Julius to the Beatrice Municipal Airport, where Star Care Ambulance flew him to Bryan West Hospital in Lincoln.  The Barneston Volunteer Fire Department was also called in to assist at the scene.  The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Gage County Sheriff’s Office by checking on Julius at Bryan West Hospital and conducting an initial interview of him there.

Delbert was brought to the Gage County Sheriff’s Office for questioning by Gage County Sheriff’s Office Investigators.  Preliminary investigation results indicate Julius was becoming aggressive toward both his parents, and has a history of making threats and/or assaulting his parents.  Delbert had sent his wife away from the house and retreated to his bedroom to get away from Julius.  Julius continued to cause a disturbance by throwing around furniture and other items, then charged into Delbert’s bedroom and advanced toward Delbert in an aggressive manner. 

Delbert feared he would be assaulted and seriously injured by Julius so he picked up a pistol from a book shelf, pointed it at Julius and told him to stop. However, Julius continued toward him and kept telling Delbert to go ahead and shoot him.  Julius grabbed Delbert by the arm, Delbert attempted to spin away from Julius and backed up several feet, but Julius continued to advance toward him in an aggressive manner.  Delbert fired one round toward Julius’ leg, the bullet, however, struck Julius in the abdomen. 

Julius was taken to Bryan West Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

An Investigator from the Gage County Sheriff’s Office was assigned to the case and processed to the scene for evidence.  After evidence was collected the house was turned over to Delbert’s wife.

The Gage County Attorneys’ Office was advised of the situation.   Delbert Bruner was released after initial questioning by Gage County Sheriff’s Office investigators.  Further investigative follow-up will be conducted.

Sheriff Millard “Gus” Gustafson #903

Investigator T. Hanson #90310

Deputy R. Sandersfeld #9032

Deputy J. Baldassano #90313