DHS: Omaha QuikTrip shooter entered U.S. as unaccompanied minor, had violent criminal record
DHS identified the Omaha gas‑station shooter as Salvadoran national Juan Ayala‑Ramos (previously reported as Juan Melgar‑Ayala), saying he entered the United States as an unaccompanied minor in June 2007 and that an immigration judge administratively closed his removal case that year. Officials said Ayala‑Ramos had a prior criminal history — including a 2019 assault‑by‑strangulation charge and 2021 arrests for burglary and possession of a stolen firearm — and that he allegedly wounded a 61‑year‑old civilian and injured four Omaha officers before being fatally shot by police; investigators are probing how he obtained the handgun and family members reported mental‑health issues.
📌 Key Facts
- DHS/ICE and local reports identify the suspect as Juan Ayala‑Ramos (also reported as Juan Melgar‑Ayala), 28, a Salvadoran national in the U.S. illegally; DHS/ICE publicly released his photo.
- DHS says Ayala‑Ramos entered the U.S. as an unaccompanied minor in June 2007 and that an immigration judge administratively closed his removal case later that year.
- DHS and local records detail a prior violent criminal history, including a 2019 assault by strangulation charge, 2021 arrests for burglary and possession of a stolen firearm, and no‑contest pleas to two burglary charges tied to business break‑ins.
- Officials say the suspect carried out an earlier, seemingly random shooting at Phil’s Foodway that seriously wounded 61‑year‑old Michael Kasper.
- At a QuikTrip, investigators say the suspect fired at least 16 rounds (15 shell casings recovered at the grocery); body‑camera footage shows him aiming at officers, and he was fatally shot by police after firing on them.
- Omaha Police said four officers were injured in the QuikTrip shootout: Sgt. Emilio Luna (gunshot wound to foot), Det. Jordan Brandt (gunshot wound to leg), Det. Brock Rengo (graze wound to leg), and Det. Christopher Brown (shrapnel injury to foot); Det. Kyle Graber and Sgt. Jonathon Holtrop were uninjured.
- Police are investigating how the suspect obtained the handgun; family members reported he had mental‑health issues.
- DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin publicly condemned the attacks and noted the suspect’s prior arrests; Gov. Jim Pillen praised officers and highlighted the suspect’s immigration and felony status.
📊 Relevant Data
The Latino population in the Omaha metropolitan area increased from 50,015 (9.2% of total) in 2010 to 85,000 (11.5% of total) in 2020, representing a 70% growth, with an estimated 100,000 (12.5%) in 2023.
Quick Facts about the Latino Population — University of Nebraska at Omaha
From 2012 to 2018 in Texas, undocumented immigrants had a felony arrest rate of approximately 400 per 100,000, compared to 1,000 per 100,000 for native-born citizens and 800 per 100,000 for legal immigrants.
Comparing crime rates between undocumented immigrants, legal immigrants, and native-born US citizens in Texas — Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)
From 2012 to 2018 in Texas, native-born citizens were over 2 times more likely to be arrested for violent crimes than undocumented immigrants.
Comparing crime rates between undocumented immigrants, legal immigrants, and native-born US citizens in Texas — Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)
In 2019, the age-standardized homicide rate for Black males aged 15-24 was 74.6 per 100,000, compared to the national average of 6.1 per 100,000.
Homicide Rates Across County, Race, Ethnicity, Age, and Sex in the US: A Global Burden of Disease Study — PubMed Central (PMC)
📰 Sources (4)
- DHS/ICE publicly released a photo of suspect Juan Ayala‑Ramos.
- DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin issued a direct statement condemning the attacks and noting the suspect’s prior arrests while remaining at large.
- DHS specified that an immigration judge administratively closed Ayala‑Ramos’s removal case in 2007.
- DHS identifies the suspect as Juan Ayala-Ramos (previously reported as Juan Melgar-Ayala), a Salvadoran national who entered the U.S. as an unaccompanied minor in June 2007; his removal case was closed by an immigration judge later that year.
- DHS details prior criminal history including a 2019 assault by strangulation charge and 2021 arrests for burglary and possession of a stolen firearm; local court records show no‑contest pleas to two burglary charges tied to business break‑ins.
- Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin issued on‑record statements condemning the attacks and offering condolences to the wounded civilian and officers.
- Omaha Police named the injured officers and specified injuries: Sgt. Emilio Luna (gunshot wound to foot), Det. Brock Rengo (graze wound to leg), Det. Jordan Brandt (gunshot wound to leg), and Det. Christopher Brown (shrapnel injury to foot); Det. Kyle Graber and Sgt. Jonathon Holtrop were uninjured.
- Body‑camera footage shows the suspect aiming at officers; officials say he fired at least 16 rounds before being fatally shot by police.
- OPD noted family reports of the suspect’s mental‑health issues and said detectives are investigating how he obtained the handgun.
- Civilian victim identified as 61‑year‑old Michael Kasper remains in serious condition after the earlier grocery‑store shooting allegedly by the same suspect.
- Suspect identified as Juan Melgar-Ayala, 28, a Salvadoran national in the U.S. illegally and a convicted felon.
- Police now say four officers were injured (previous reports noted three); OPD named the injured officers and described their wounds.
- Officials detailed an earlier, seemingly random shooting at Phil’s Foodway that seriously wounded 61-year-old Michael Kasper.
- Investigators say the suspect fired at least 16 rounds at the QuikTrip; 15 shell casings were recovered at the grocery scene.
- OPD says it is investigating how the suspect obtained the handgun; family reported mental health issues.
- Gov. Jim Pillen issued a statement praising officers and noting the suspect’s immigration and felony status.