Police say criminal illegal alien injured 4 officers in Nebraska gas station shootout

The armed suspect accused of wounding multiple officers in a gas station shootout after allegedly firing on a 61-year-old man in an earlier, seemingly random shooting has been identified as an illegal immigrant and convicted felon, authorities revealed Thursday. 

Officials said Salvadoran national Juan Melgar-Ayala, 28, injured four officers at a QuikTrip in Omaha, Nebraska, on Wednesday before being killed at the scene by responding officers. Melgar-Ayala was reportedly on the run after an earlier shooting at a neighborhood grocery store that left a 61-year-old man injured. Police said the suspect had no known motive or connection to the victim.

"Juan Melgar-Ayala, a convicted felon in our country illegally from El Salvador, started a shootout with Omaha police this week – and paid the price," Gov. Jim Pillen said Friday.

Court records indicate Melgar-Ayala had a history of felony burglary convictions in Douglas County, according to local media KETV. In 2021, he reportedly entered no-contest pleas to t...