Crime
Eric Bechtolt Killed After Shooting at Florence Tower in Omaha, Suspect Billy Dorrall Arrested
Omaha, NE – On Sunday evening, Omaha Police Department officers responded to an active shooting at Florence Tower, located at 5100 Florence Blvd, following multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire inside the building.
The first reports were received at 6:05 p.m., with at least three separate callers stating they had heard shots fired on the fifth or sixth floor of the apartment complex.
By 6:14 p.m., a fourth caller reported seeing a male suspect walking on the sixth floor carrying two handguns.
Uniform Patrol officers arrived on scene at 6:11 p.m. and began a floor-by-floor search of the building, starting from the fifth floor.
As officers ascended the south stairwell toward the sixth floor, they heard sounds of a disturbance.
Just as they neared the sixth-floor door, it was abruptly opened by a male suspect — later identified as 50-year-old Billy A. Dorrall.
At that moment, one officer discharged their service weapon, striking Dorrall in the left hip.
In response, Dorrall fired back down the stairwell and then retreated into the sixth-floor hallway.
Once back in the hallway, Dorrall reportedly fired multiple rounds, aiming both up and down the corridor, and threatened several residents at gunpoint.
A coordinated arrest team, equipped with a ballistic shield, moved into position while officers in the stairwell maintained containment. As they prepared to enter the hallway, officers heard additional gunfire.
The arrest team entered the hallway, issued loud verbal commands, and Dorrall surrendered without further incident.
He was immediately provided medical treatment by Omaha Fire Department personnel and transported to Nebraska Medicine, where he was treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. He has since been released into police custody.
During the investigation, officers recovered surveillance footage from building cameras, which was provided by the Omaha Housing Authority.
The footage shows Dorrall behaving erratically and confronting residents before engaging in a verbal altercation with another tenant, identified as 45-year-old Eric M. Bechtolt.
The video shows Dorrall returning to his apartment, retrieving a firearm, and shooting Bechtolt multiple times in the hallway. Responding officers later found Bechtolt deceased outside the stairwell door.
Dorrall was interviewed by detectives and provided a full confession, admitting to the murder of Bechtolt.
He also expressed an intent to kill additional residents and responding officers had he not been stopped.
Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer issued a statement commending the officers involved:
“I want to commend the officers who responded to this incredibly dangerous situation. Their training, courage, and swift response undoubtedly prevented further loss of life. What unfolded at Florence Tower was tragic, and our thoughts and condolences are with the family and loved ones of Mr. Bechtolt. Our officers acted heroically under extreme pressure, and I am proud of their commitment to protecting the residents of Omaha.”
The department has released still images from surveillance footage, showing Dorrall armed with two handguns, along with crime scene photographs of the weapons, ammunition, and spent shell casings recovered from the scene.
The investigation remains ongoing.
BAY CITY, Mich. — A violent road rage incident escalated into a multi-victim shooting Monday evening, as two vehicles reportedly exchanged gunfire while speeding into Bay City from neighboring Saginaw County.
The confrontation ended near a McDonald’s on M-15 and 22nd Street, where first responders located multiple victims and a heavily damaged vehicle.
At approximately 7:19 p.m., authorities began receiving numerous 911 calls reporting two vehicles involved in a high-speed rolling gun battle, traveling at speeds up to 115 mph.
Witnesses described a white SUV and a black sedan traveling from Saginaw County into Bay County, discharging firearms at each other—possibly automatic weapons, based on the volume and sound of the gunfire.
Bay City Police confirmed that officers heard automatic weapon fire along Broadway Avenue as the vehicles entered the city limits.
The vehicles continued east on 22nd Street, with the white SUV coming to a stop in the parking lot of the McDonald’s at M-15 and 22nd Street.
Police arrived on scene shortly after to find the white SUV with multiple windows blown out and three gunshot victims nearby.
Immediate medical aid was provided until emergency medical services arrived.
Meanwhile, the black sedan—described as having visible gunshot damage—fled the area southbound on M-15.
As of this report, the suspect vehicle remains at large, and authorities are actively searching the area.
Witnesses described the scene as chaotic and terrifying.
One bystander noted the vehicles passed by “at an ungodly rate of speed,” while another described seeing people ducking for cover as the shots rang out.
Police from multiple jurisdictions, including Bay City and Saginaw County, are collaborating on the investigation.
Detectives are working to piece together surveillance footage and gather witness statements.
The motive behind the incident appears to be tied to an extreme case of road rage, though further details are still emerging.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident, has dashcam footage, or has any information about the black sedan is urged to contact local law enforcement or Bay County Crime Stoppers.
This remains an active investigation.
Updates will follow as more information becomes available.