Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

Nebraska nursing student killed by sniper
By Taylor Muller
The Gateway (U. Nebraska-Omaha)
01/24/2008

(U-WIRE) OMAHA, Neb. — A 21-year-old University of Nebraska-Omaha student was fatally shot Sunday while in the drive-through lane of a Florence-area Kentucky Fried Chicken. Brittany Williams was found, deceased, in the driver's seat of her car at the 7601 N. 30th St. restaurant at 8:40 p.m. after Omaha police were called regarding a shooting.

She suffered from a gunshot wound to the head and died at the scene, according to an Omaha Police Department statement. While police were investigating the scene, a white 1996 Chrysler Sebring drove through the crime scene tape, refusing to stop for officers.

The driver exited the vehicle near 29th and Bondesson streets and fled on foot. Officers observed him throwing a high power rifle to the ground.

The driver was apprehended and identified as Kyle J. Bormann, a 19-year-old Omaha man.

According to the police statement, investigators reported Bormann was in his vehicle when he fired one shot at Williams from over 100 yards away.

"It appears thus far from the investigation that the victim was randomly chosen in this tragic incident," the statement said.

Bormann was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder and use of a weapon to commit a felony. Judge Jeffrey Marcuzzo denied Bormann bail Wednesday, citing the seriousness of the crime.

Murder in the first-degree carries a sentence of life imprisonment or the death penalty. The weapons charge carries a prison term of one to 50 years.

During Wednesday's hearing, Douglas County Prosecutor Molly Smith said while being interviewed, Bormann had admitted firing a Winchester .243-cailber bolt-action rifle equipped with a scope at William's car.

Bormann's family issued a statement expressing their condolences to the friends and family of Williams.

Williams graduated in 2004 from Northwest High School. She was also a junior at UNO where she was a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. She was a pre-nursing student and recently entered the University of Nebraska Medical Center's College of Nursing.

"This would have been her second week at the UNMC in the nursing program to be a nursing practitioner," said Sarah Wagner, a close friend and UNO student. "We were in the Goodrich program for four years, met her freshman year in 2004. We just clicked."

Wagner described Williams as a bright, bubbly student who had aspirations of helping the community.

Wagner said she saw Williams only a few days before Sunday's shooting.

"We were riding in the car together a few days ago; she needed a ride to the parking garage and I took her because it was cold," Wagner said.

A part of UNO's Goodrich program, Wagner was well remembered among her professors as an attentive, intelligent student.

"She always had a sunny disposition," said Mark Myers, who taught Williams at UNO. "She was happy to be where she was; she enjoyed being in class."

Those that knew Williams said they could not believe the news Monday morning.

"I was in shock. [I] got phone calls from 3 a.m. to 8 a.m. and text messages," Wagner said. "I was in denial, but when I turned on the news and saw her car and her license plate, it made me really depressed. I loved her."

At time of press, Bormann was still being held in the Douglas County Department of Corrections, awaiting further hearings. Funeral services are planned at Salem Baptist Church, 3131 Lake St., for 10 a.m. on Monday. A wake is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sunday at Thomas Funeral Home, 3920 N. 24th St. Visitation will also be held from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.

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