LINCOLN, Neb – 46-year-old Dale Hays, a Lancaster County man, is facing multiple charges after deputies say he fired a rifle round at another man during a confrontation on his property southeast of Lincoln.
According to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office (LSO), deputies were dispatched around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 23, 2025, to a weapons complaint at a residence near 190th Street and Wittstruck Road.
When deputies arrived, they spoke with those involved and determined the incident unfolded as a 21-year-old man arrived at the home to pick up his 18-year-old girlfriend. Authorities say Hays became engaged in a heated argument with the young man and objected to him being on the property.
During the dispute, investigators allege Hays retrieved a rifle and fired a shot at the 21-year-old, who was still inside his vehicle at the time. Fortunately, the bullet did not strike the victim, and he quickly left the property. Deputies confirmed that no one was injured in the incident.
Following interviews and the collection of evidence, deputies arrested Hays. He was booked into the Lancaster County Jail on multiple charges, including:
- Child Abuse
- Use of a Weapon to Commit a Felony
- Terroristic Threats
The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office emphasized that the situation could have ended in tragedy and praised the swift response of deputies in safely resolving the incident.
The case remains under investigation, and officials say further charges could be considered pending review by the Lancaster County Attorney’s Office.
Leave a Reply