Chilling details about North Omaha apartment tower killing shared at suspect’s first court hearing

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - The man arrested after a fatal shooting at a high-rise apartment building in North Omaha over the weekend apparently told medics that he wished there had been more killed in the incident.

Billy Dorrall, 50, made his first court appearance Wednesday following Sunday’s fatal shooting of 45-year-old Eric Bechtolt the Omaha Housing Authority’s Florence Tower.

Dorrall was formally charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, and three weapons charges.

The judge denied him bond, and set his preliminary hearing date for May 28.

Police responded to the tower after receiving calls about shots fired on the fifth or sixth floor of the complex. Officers arrived and found Bechtolt dead at the scene.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, prosecutors revealed some troubling details about the shooting.

“Video from the apartment shows the defendant shooting the victim from a few feet away; and then proceeded to stand over him and fired several more rounds at him, killing him,” the prosecutor said.

Prosecutors said that when officers arrived at the tower, Dorrall told police, “I see you, and I’m ready for you.”

Gunfire was exchanged, and Dorrall was hit.

Omaha Police Officer Alex Atkinson also suffered an injury during the exchange.

“When officers contacted the defendant, he fired a handgun at Officer Atkinson,” the prosecutor said.

Bullet fragments and shrapnel ripped through the right bicep sleeve of the officer, piercing his skin.

Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine told First Alert 6 that the community is grateful that Officer Atkinson didn’t suffer a fatal wound.

“We’re alleging (Dorrall) pointed the gun at the officers after he committed the first murder; and shot at the police officers with the intention of killing one of the officers,” Kleine said.

Dorrall was also hit in the hip during the shootout, and taken to the hospital for treatment. Police said they found two handguns and ammunition next to him when they arrested him.

“In the back of the medic, the defendant made statements: ‘What hurts is, I didn’t kill enough people,” prosecutors said in court Wednesday. “Defendant also made additional statements: ‘I did it,’ and ‘I killed him.’ ... Defendant was eventually transported to OPD Central Headquarters, where he made statements that he wanted to kill more people, including families kids and cops.”

The officers involved have been placed on paid critical leave, per OPD policy, and were interviewed as the investigation into the shooting continues.

OPD said that Atkinson, who has been with the department for five years, relayed his recollection about how the shooting response unfolded to the Officer Involved Investigations Team in a manner that was “consistent with both the video footage and the physical evidence recovered at the scene.”

Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said Officer Atkinson and others on the scene responded bravely.

“Based on a thorough review of the incident, Officer Atkinson’s actions were within Omaha Police policy and procedures. Officer Atkinson and the other responding officers acted with incredible bravery and urgency under life-threatening conditions. Their quick, decisive response prevented further harm and protected innocent lives. I commend their professionalism and dedication to the safety of our community,” Schmaderer said in a written statement Wednesday evening.

Two people who live in the tower told First Alert 6 that they heard all the gunfire.

“Boom. Boom. Boom boom. You know, I would say four to eight (gunshots) when it go like that. boom boom boom boom. Six to 10 — you know how it go," said resident John M., who was in his Florence Tower apartment when the shots were fired.

Police evidence markers and guns and ammunition found in the sixth-floor hall back up what he heard.

Reggie Mayhue said he also heard the shooting — and that the gunfire forced him to leave the building.

“I was getting off the elevator, so I wasn’t going to go back up, so I ran out here,” he said. “In about 10 minutes, the police came, shooting. Start shooting again when the police got here. ... The police and him were shooting at each other, I guess.”

John M. said the gunfire has many residents at the tower concerned.

“It always worry you, man. Unless you just that type of mentality of a person where you creating this madness,” he said.

Mayhue said this wasn’t the first time police were called to Florence Tower for acts of violence.

“Not too long ago, about last month, a girl got shot up here. It didn’t hit the news though,” he said. “... Yeah, everybody taking about leaving — getting out of here."

He said he can’t afford to live anywhere else, though.

HEARING DELAYED

Dorrall was initially due in court Wednesday morning, but proceedings were delayed by an electrical issue at the construction site of the Douglas County Jail’s new mental health addition shut off power to administrative offices and courtrooms on Tuesday.

The outage was expected to be corrected overnight, but took longer than expected, authorities told First Alert 6.

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Digital Producer Elaina Riley and Digital Director Gina Dvorak contributed to this report.

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