Crime
All Suspects in Custody Following Mass Shooting in Spotsylvania County
At least three individuals were confirmed dead, with one victim found inside a vehicle and another visibly deceased on the property.
SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, VA — Authorities have confirmed that all suspects connected to Tuesday’s fatal shooting in the Olde Greenwich neighborhood, near Fredericksburg, are now in custody, and there is no ongoing threat to public safety.
Four Charged in Connection to Spotsylvania County Mass Shooting, Victims Identified
A formal press release from the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office is expected to provide additional information.
The violent incident occurred shortly before 6:00 p.m. on April 8, when a call was received reporting an active shooter in the 400 block of Olde Greenwich Drive, just off Lafayette Boulevard.
Law enforcement and emergency radio traffic at the time indicated multiple victims, including at least two children, and that the area had not yet been secured by responding officers.
Upon arrival, deputies and EMS crews encountered a chaotic and devastating scene.
At least three individuals were confirmed dead, with one victim found inside a vehicle and another visibly deceased on the property.
Paramedics were seen administering aid to additional victims at the scene. In total, three more individuals were transported to a hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds.
The conditions and ages of those injured have not yet been disclosed.
According to Major Liz Scott of the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office, the incident remains an active and fluid investigation, though the immediate danger has passed with the apprehension of all involved suspects.
Eyewitness reports indicate the shooting stemmed from a confrontation between two groups of individuals.
Gunfire reportedly erupted between the parties before a resident from the neighborhood stepped outside and confronted one of the individuals involved.
The exact sequence of events is still under investigation.
In one alarming account shared on the Ring neighborhood app, a local resident described a suspect fleeing the scene and approaching a nearby home just minutes after the shooting.
According to the post, the injured suspect—believed to be one of the shooters—told a resident’s fiancé he had been shot, while a child and a dog were visibly present at the doorway.
The fiancé reportedly ordered the suspect to leave the property, an incident believed to have occurred between 5:50 and 6:10 p.m. This highlights the proximity and potential danger posed to area families during the unfolding violence.
A heavy police and emergency responder presence continues in the area as investigators work to piece together the full circumstances of the shooting.
Residents were earlier ordered to shelter in place, though that advisory is expected to be lifted now that all suspects have been located and detained.
Law enforcement urges residents who may have witnessed any part of the incident, or who have doorbell footage, surveillance video, or relevant information, to contact the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office immediately.
Further details, including identities of the deceased and suspects, are expected to be released once families are notified and investigations progress.
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.