By Scott Carlson-North Platte Post
NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-A 43-year-old North Platte man will face a charge of first-degree murder following a shooting last Friday.
Keith Allen made his preliminary court appearance in Lincoln County court via video on Tuesday where Judge Joel Jay arraigned him on a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting death of 25-year-old Brett Torres. Allen had initially been arrested on suspicion of 2nd-degree murder.
During the hearing, Allen stated that he could not afford an attorney and asked the court to appoint a public defender. He also asked if he might be granted work release. Judge Jay denied that request.
Upon the order of Judge Jay, Allen will remain in the custody of the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office with no bond.
According to court records, prosecutors allege that on Friday, May 22, 2020, at around 2:32 p.m., Allen shot Torres multiple times with a .45 caliber handgun in an alley at A and Chestnut Streets in North Platte.
Police arrived and found Torres in a vehicle unresponsive and suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Records say Torres was transported to Great Plains Health where he died from his injuries.
A statement from the North Platte Police Department says Allen called 911 and reported that he had shot Torres in self-defense. Police did not report finding any weapons in Torres' possession or inside the vehicle.
According to Nebraska statutes, A person commits murder in the first degree if he or she kills another person (1) purposely and with deliberate and premeditated malice, or (2) in the perpetration of or attempt to perpetrate any sexual assault in the first degree, arson, robbery, kidnapping, hijacking of any public or private means of transportation, or burglary, or (3) by administering poison or causing the same to be done; or if by willful and corrupt perjury or subornation of the same he or she purposely procures the conviction and execution of any innocent person. The determination of whether murder in the first degree shall be punished as a Class I or Class IA felony shall be made pursuant to sections 29-2519 to 29-2524.
Allen will be back in court on June 4.