A trucker and Army veteran was shot and killed in a road rage incident in Omaha, Nebraska late last month. Police have arrested one suspect as an accessory, but say that the shooter is still unknown.
32-year-old James Womack was stopped at the intersection of 60th and L Street when the shooting occurred. Craig Kellerman, a witness interviewed by KMTV, was driving by when he saw the incident occur.
According to Kellerman, Womack had gotten out of his truck, walked up to a beige pickup behind him and yelled at the driver.
“(He) said his piece and started walking back to his truck, and as soon as he turned around, from what I could tell, he got shot in the back three times,” Kellerman explained. “He just kind of collapsed and rolled over.”
The pickup sped off and was later found abandoned. EMTs arrived quickly, but Womack was pronounced dead at the hospital. Womack was a veteran who served three tours of duty in Iraq.
“All he cared about was his kids and his family,” said Jose Cardenas, a close friend who had served two tours with Womack. “He came to Omaha because he wanted a better life for his wife and kids.”
One suspect, Michael Benson, was arrested and charged with being an accessory, but no other arrests have been made.
“Being an accessory, at least at this point in time in the investigation, means several things,” explained Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine to WOWT News. “It’s helping somebody after the fact, providing transportation, not being honest with the police – those are things that are part of an accessory charge, so we’ll see where that leads us.”
Junior Rowe says
My Sympathy and prayers go out to the Womack family.
Richard A. says
Whenever I want to give a blast to a 4 wheeler, it’s stories like this that keep me in my truck, biting my tongue.
Darryl Updike says
Amen Brother!
Edward speed says
Im sorry us drivers have to be so worried out here and we cant carry any guns,that needs ti change and quickly,sirry for your lose family,im praying this mess stops.
Mark says
Truck driver Gun carry is absolutely allowed. This is determined by the truck owner.
Select State gun concealed carry permits even allow for a shotgun/rifle to be carried in a Commercial Motor Vehicle.
Simply comply with local State and private property regulation while traveling.
I have personally carried a shotgun into multiple Prisons while making a delivery and the Security guardhouse provides a clearing barrel upon entry – sign in your weapons and they are returned upon exit.
Private property owners may post signage stating a no carry policy, but they do not include the transport of weapons inside a CMV. Simply disarm and properly store your firearm/ammunition before exiting the vehicle.
Some locations may insist that no weapons are allowed past the entrance, but they are required to provide an armory, which few can afford to operate.
****Remaining ignorant of your rights is a choice.****
Susan Murphy says
James got out of his truck to ask the pickup driver “what’s your problem?” he was shot in the back after he turned to go back to his truck. Having a gun wouldn’t have changed getting shot in the back. And not all companies allow guns in their trucks. Also, James was black, and most cops will shoot since the worst that happens is a few weeks off, paid. I knew James, & he was a friendly, helpful guy. Turning his tragic death into a pro-gun debate disrespect
s his memory.
Jeff says
Not sure what made Womack get out of his truck, but nowadays that doesn’t seem like it would be a good idea unless you are armed yourself. Lesson learned here is not to turn your back on an angry 4 wheeler.
Peter says
So what? Gun death is just the price of freedom, Bill O’Reilly said so. So stop bitching and enjoy your freedom, to be killed I guess?
Mack says
Only a low life, magot coward shoots in the back.
WTF says
Its a fact..now a days you need to expect anything from anyone…never turn your back..even in a restaurant I face the door..fight for your countrymen and their family and get no respect for it..
Bad Influence says
That’s why you should be armed as well. I don’t care what the law is think about some of the sketchy places we are forced to park in with no protection…yeah right, they’ll get more than what they bargained for screwing with me! Very sad this man survived 3 tours in Iraq only to be shot in the back by an American terrorist, that’s a charge that should be thrown on top everything else send him to Gitmo make him disappear for the rest of his life.
mike C. says
i AGREE HE SHOULD HAVE HAD A WEAPON ALSO BUT WHAT GOOD WOULD IT HAVE DONE , he got shot in the back .
Susan Murphy says
How do you know James didn’t have a weapon?
Barton Wayne Van Buskirk says
Talking to or yelling at other drivers is a waist of time nothing good ever comes from it .
There’s has got to be more to all of this for the police not to have charged anybody yet.
Will says
Man walked away from his weapon to engage an unknown force, attempted intimidation, then dropped his guard by turning his back. He clearly wasn’t trained properly. If aggressive action was unavoidable, he had at least 15000 lbs if weapon, assuming bobtail.
Susan Murphy says
He was a day cab driver & had a trailer.
Katy says
Father and husband, “who live for family”, have to be alive, noting else… Go to war for family? Be angry, knowing you can be shot for it? My family it is what make me humble on rouds around irrigant drivers… Do you? My condolences for the deceased…
Craig Moore says
I wouldn’t get out to walk back that far. I’d made them make the aggressive move first. Then shot them in self defense. I’m sure that the pickup driver would claim some bs that Womack had threaten them and they feared for their life. Shooting in the back was just an accident.
Mycal Baker says
So was it worth it to get out and run your mouth.. How many times we see this.. Be the better driver and let it go.. We all know we see some of the worse driving out here.. Before you say something about caring I do but I’m so tired of hearing about trucker road rage and getting shot or stabbed..
Deaconblues62 says
The problem is there aren’t any real Truck drivers left anymore, just poorly trained disparate people who are broke and have no clue what they’re doing. The public knows that. Most of my negative encounters are from other Trucks not 4 wheelers.
Charles Hargrave says
I agree with Deaconblues use to be 4wheelers now 18 wheelers.Cant pass one without them either getting in your lane or running off the road.Did the good truck drivers quit or did they get killed.I know there are some good drivers still out here.But look at how many trucks are on the road.Way too many people that have no courtesy and simply don’t pay attention