Ex-Con Stable After Botched Murder/Suicide

"OMAHA, NE — Homicide detectives say a 47-year-old Omaha man fatally shot his girlfriend, a graduate of Amherst High School, before attempting to kill himself Saturday while parked in a car near 72nd and L Streets.

"Officer Jacob Bettin, a police spokesman, said Sunday that Rita J. Eckhout, 35, of Omaha was pronounced dead at the scene. The suspected gunman, Mitchel L. Hadan, was reported in critical but stable condition at Creighton University Medical Center.

"The incident occurred about 5:40 p.m. Saturday. An Omaha police officer, thinking a motorist needed assistance, stopped his cruiser and approached a sports car that was stopped on the ramp from 72nd Street to eastbound L Street.

"The officer spoke with Hadan, who was behind the wheel. On his way back to his cruiser to position it to divert traffic, the officer heard two gunshots.

"Hadan has a long criminal history and served nearly 10 years in prison for robbery, two counts of theft, attempted third-degree assault on a peace officer and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony. He began his sentence in March 1997 and was released in September 2006.

"The Eckhout family was aware of Hadan’s criminal background. Nathan Eckhout said he was `pretty worried` about his sister’s safety.

"`I don’t know what to say about this right now,` he said. `We’re still pretty much in shock.`"

Source: kearneyhub.com...