Police Search For Suspect Vehicle In Fatal Shooting Of Omaha Truck Driver/Iraq War Veteran

by Jana Ritter - Published: 9/19/2017

Omaha Police are asking for the public’s help in their search for a suspect who fatally shot a truck driver on Monday afternoon. Investigators have released photos of the suspect's vehicle, which they believe is a tan or beige, late 90's or early 2000's Chevy Silverado with an extended cab. One of the photos shows the pick-up leaving the scene of the shooting and police believe the vehicle may also have damage around the rear driver's side wheel.

                                         

The tragic incident occurred just before 4:30 pm on Monday near the intersection of 60th and L Streets in Omaha, Neb. James Womack, a 32-year-old family man and truck driver, was on a delivery job driving a semitrailer for Hill Brothers Transportation. Based on several witness accounts, police believe the incident started as a road rage situation and then escalated from there.

“Driver of the semi-truck got out, pounded on the window of the pickup. I’m assuming there was some sort of vehicle altercation traffic-wise,” Craig Kellerman told WOWT 6 news. Kellerman says he was working in the area at the time and gave his account of what happened next. “He yelled at him. He turned around to walk back to his truck. Said whatever he needed to say and was done. And, turned around and he got shot in the back – what I heard – three times. There's no reason for that. That's uncalled for, even for being mad at somebody," Kellerman says.

                                                                          

The suspect fled in the pick-up before officers arrived at the scene to find Womack suffering from a gunshot wound. He was immediately rushed to hospital with CPR in progress but later died from the gunshot injuries. The OPD Homicide Unit was then called in to help investigators process the scene and the victim's semi truck. Investigators have continued to interview witnesses and it's also being reported that there may be a video of the shooting captured on a nearby metro bus.

                                    

A Bronx native, Womack relocated with his wife and three children to Omaha in 2008, believing it was a good place to raise a family - explains his close friend Jose Cardenas. “All he cared about was his kids and his family,” says Cardenas. The two men met in 2003 in the Army at boot camp where Womack was a staff sergeant in transportation. He served three tours of duty in Iraq, including two with Cardenas. “His father is a truck driver back in New York. He told me that he always wanted to drive a truck like his dad,” Cardenas adds.

Police are searching for a tan Chevy Silverado as the suspect vehicle involved in the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 402-444-STOP.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Womack’s family during this very difficult time.

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