A 20-year-old Louisiana man charged with second-degree murder allegedly told witnesses that the man he shot had spoken ill of his mother.
David M. Phillips Jr., 20, of Kenner, Louisiana, is accused of fatally shooting Israel Matos-Colon, 31, of Fowlerville, Michigan, on March 1. The men were part of a crew working on a tower 2 miles north of Hartington in northeast Nebraska (about 150 miles north of Omaha).
Phillips appeared in Cedar County Court last week and was also charged with use of a firearm to commit a felony and being in possession of stolen firearm. A judge ordered Phillips held on $10 million bail. He must pay 10% of that amount, $100,000, to be released from the Cedar County Jail.
Investigators said the shooting occurred during a workplace argument between Phillips and Matos-Colon, who was pronounced dead at a Yankton, South Dakota, hospital. If convicted of second-degree murder, Phillips faces a sentence of 20 years to life in prison.
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According to an affidavit filed in Cedar County, three other workers witnessed the shooting about 9:20 a.m. One witness told investigators that he saw Phillips firing a handgun at Matos-Colon from about 7 feet. The witness said that after the shooting, Phillips was wandering around and said, “That (N-word) done talked about my mom.”
Another witness told investigators that he heard from six to 10 gunshots and that Phillips “apologized” to Matos-Colon as he was receiving CPR. Phillips, the witness said, also asked if the other workers were going to give him “a ride out of there” or call police.
A Glock model G19 Gen5 9mm handgun was retrieved from Phillips’ left pant leg, authorities said. The weapon had been reported stolen in Louisiana, the affidavit said.
The Nebraska State Patrol is conducting the investigation with the aid of the Cedar County Sheriff’s Office.
What you missed this week in notable Omaha crimes and court cases
This week's local crime and court updates from Omaha World-Herald.
A former Omaha police officer pleaded guilty to production of child pornography in federal court Wednesday.
A Colorado man once arrested on suspicion of trying to break into pop star Taylor Swift's home with rubber gloves, a knife and rope now is wanted in Nebraska for allegedly trying to kidnap a 17-year-old boy at a gas station in Grand Island.
The body of Todd Scherer was found in one of the tack rooms at Barn R with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the torso. An investigation continues.
Cavin Cooper, 35, was ordered held without bail Thursday. He is charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the 2015 killings of Diondre Mitchell and Lafayette Antonio Reed.
An Airbnb residence in Omaha’s Benson neighborhood sustained more than $2,000 in property damage after a guest allegedly hosted a “fight night” party in late January.
Omaha police are searching for a man accused of exposing and touching himself in front of a 3-year-old girl and her mother at a Walgreens in South Omaha.
The Omaha Police Department will be looking for drunk and impaired drivers as part of a special DUI enforcement operation this weekend.
An Omaha man has pleaded guilty to his part in a multi-million dollar embezzlement scheme that he and his partner used to fund their lavish lifestyle.
The Gage County Board on Wednesday approved its final payments in the $28.1 million judgment awarded to six people wrongfully convicted of a 1985 slaying in downtown Beatrice.
A Fremont woman has been arrested in connection with the death of 27-year-old Yashua Martinez of La Vista, whose body was found by construction crews near Fremont in September.
The former Nebraska corrections employee was charged last week with sexual abuse of an inmate after she allegedly had a sexual relationship with an inmate and gave birth to his child late last year.
The suspect or suspects caused an estimated $575,000 in damage to the tower.
An Illinois man was arrested near Pawnee City after state troopers found multiple guns and drugs in his car, according to the Nebraska State Patrol.
A 17-year-old boy is expected to survive after being stabbed in the chest Monday night in northwest Omaha.
A 23-year-old driver charged with leaving the scene of a collision resulting in the death of a South Omaha woman will stand trial and could also face additional charges.
Probable cause was found at a Monday hearing to continue legal proceedings against Jerry Johnson, an Omaha man accused of taking part in the 2020 murder of Ebony King.
The lawsuit alleges leaders at the Omaha nonprofit intentionally caused an employee to fear for her life by staging an active-shooter drill without telling her and others it was fake.
Two people were injured in a shooting Saturday morning in Omaha while driving near North 75th and Maple Streets.
A 42-year-old man attempted to flee on foot after a Nebraska state trooper tried to conduct a search of the Chrysler 300. A bystander assisted the trooper in taking the man into custody.
Education officials said the apparent communication slipup did not impede responses to a wave of hoax calls that involved at least 10 schools across the state Thursday morning.
A police report stated the Hastings woman threatened to cut off officers’ fingers and "castrate" them if the officers touched her tablet. She also threatened to have them murdered.
An Omaha man was arrested in connection with the death of a 23-year-old woman.
The Omaha Public Power District is warning customers of an uptick in scam calls and text messages.
A Nebraska employer is facing more than half a million dollars in fines after an investigation found safety violations following the death of an employee in 2022.
A 25-year-old man is being held in Douglas County Jail after being accused of assaulting his girlfriend in front of their children.
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Kevin Cole
Kevin Cole covers Omaha crime and public safety news. Follow him on Twitter @KevinColeOmaha. Phone: 402-444-1272.
