Mar 19, 2020

Man faces 11 criminal counts for gunshots at Omaha store

Posted Mar 19, 2020 5:30 PM
Jacob Muhle
Jacob Muhle

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - A man who authorities say was tackled and disarmed at an Omaha grocery store after firing several shots is facing 11 criminal counts.

Douglas County Court records say the charges against Jacob Muhle, 21, include five of using a firearm to commit a felony. The records don't list the name of an attorney who could comment for Muhle, an Omaha resident.

Muhle's father told the Omaha World-Herald that his son suffers from severe depression.

Police and medics were sent to the Hy-Vee store on the city's southwest side just after 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Muhle spent about 30 minutes parked at the store before opening fire on two vehicles at the pharmacy drive-thru window, police said. No one was hit.

He then shot out a window at a store entrance and then fired at TV monitor inside as people raced to the exits.

Deputy Omaha Police Chief Scott Gray was armed while inside shopping and went to confront the gunman. As he did so a customer, Thomas Wenzl, sprang from a hiding place and grabbed Muhle, police said.

Gray used his gun to strike Muhle in an effort to make him drop his weapon, Gray said, and eventually wrested the weapon away, breaking his own left hand.