Deadly shooting near Omaha nightclub linked to international drug operation, police say

OMAHA, Nebraska (WOWT) – Police say they are linking the deaths of two men shot by off-duty police officers in an alley near a South Omaha nightclub in February to an illegal drug trade originating in Mexico.

In an update Tuesday, Omaha police said the investigation into the fatal shootings of 28-year-old Jonathan Hernandez-Rosales and 26-year-old Fernando Rodriguez-Juarez earlier this year resulted in a series of search warrants and the seizure of “significant quantities of narcotics intended for resale,” as well as the confiscation of large amounts of cash related to those sales.

Investigators also established a direct connection between the two men and “led to illegal drug activity in the city of Omaha that was traced back to Mexico,” the latest OPD report said.

Several arrests were made locally, leading to the identification of international organized crime networks and individuals associated with those networks. Federal arrest warrants were subsequently issued for two traffickers who have since fled the area and are being pursued by the DEA. Several individuals remain under investigation by local, state and federal authorities.

“To preserve the integrity of the case, no arrested individuals or individuals under investigation are being identified at this time as this case is still open and ongoing,” Tuesday’s report said.

The shooting occurred Saturday night, February 3, in an alley near the Extasis Night Club, which was located near 31st and L Streets but has since closed.

According to police reports, a disturbance over a gun escalated, resulting in the deaths of Hernandez-Rosales and Rodriguez-Juarez; two off-duty officers shot at the suspects while they were sitting in an SUV, hitting them three times each. Hernandez-Rosales and Rodriguez-Juarez were taken to the hospital and pronounced dead shortly afterward.

The Douglas County District Attorney’s Office deemed the shooting “justified” based on video evidence and declined to file charges against the officers. However, under Nebraska state law, a grand jury will still review the case.

After the shooting, OPD drug unit investigators searched Hernandez-Rosales’ car and found $23,300 worth of cocaine, Tuesday’s OPD report said.

“This is consistent with the illegal drug trade,” the report says. “In the United States, it is not legal to sell cars with hidden compartments.”

As the investigation continues, OPD Chief Todd Schmaderer praised the progress made so far.

“Through careful intelligence gathering and cooperation with federal authorities, we have disrupted significant drug trafficking activity,” he said in Tuesday’s press release. “Our ongoing efforts reflect our unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of our community and continue to be accompanied by thorough follow-up by officers.”

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