Waw Gach

Status:

Open

Jurisdiction:

Omaha Police Department (NE)

Offense Location:

Omaha, Nebraska

Summary:

Waw Gach, 18, died at Bergan Mercy Hospital following a shooting at Benson Park on Tuesday, April 7, 2020, where he witnessed a vehicle crash and disturbance between vehicle owners, one of whom began shooting at the other vehicle's occupants, and Waw was shot while attempting to stop the shooter and died from his injuries. The case remains unsolved and is being investigated by the Omaha Police Department Cold Case Homicide Unit.

Vital Statistics

Circumstances of Offense:

Waw was at a gathering with friends at Benson Park on Tuesday, April 7, 2020. While at the park, Waw witnessed a vehicle crash and a disturbance between the owners of the vehicles involved. One of the individuals involved in the crash began to shoot at occupants of the other vehicle. Waw was shot while he was attempting to stop the shooter. At 9:38 p.m., officers were dispatched to Benson Park at 7028 Military Avenue regarding the shooting. Several victims were located and Waw was transported to a local hospital where he died from his injuries. Nyanpal Tut, 19, was also transported to Bergan Mercy Hospital were her injuries were determined to be non-life threatening. Young people in the South Sudanese community had warned that a death would occur, which led to the fatal shooting at Benson Park, where one person in the crash began shooting at occupants of the other car and Gach was shot while trying to stop the shooter. Thon said they were all South Sudanese. The crime is still unsolved.

Additional Details:

Gach's family came to the U.S. from Sudan and he was a star Track & Field athlete for the Monarchs at Denison-Schleswig High School in Denison, Iowa, where he attended for one year as a junior. In track and field, Gach led the state of Iowa in the high jump last season with a leap of 6 feet, 8 inches. He made that jump at the Class 3-A sectional meet at Sergeant Bluff-Luton to qualify for state. He finished fourth at state after tweaking his hamstring. On the football team, Gach played defensive back and had one or two interceptions. Waw Gach enjoyed being physically active. He loved track and field and wrestling. The case is listed as an unsolved murder on the Omaha Police Department's cold case website. The crime is still unsolved, though some of that is mistrust and misunderstanding of police.

Case Last Updated:

Apr 24, 2026