Man gunned down in front of girlfriend, kids

A 25-year-old Omaha man was shot early Sunday in front of his longtime girlfriend and their three little girls near 10th and Bancroft Streets.

Andrew S. Lineberry was taken to Creighton University Medical Center, where he died, Omaha Police Lt. Darci Tierney said.

Police said Lineberry was sitting in a car with his girlfriend, Lisa Garcia, and the three young girls when the shooting took place shortly after midnight.

One of the girls is the 3-year-old daughter of Lineberry and Garcia. The other two girls, ages 8 and 7, are Garcia's daughters whom Lineberry helped raise.

A witness said she was sitting on a bench outside Burr's Spring Inn across the street and north from the shooting. She saw a white truck go south on 10th Street and pass a car, then she heard a gunshot. The truck then took off south on 10th Street.

Myrna Garcia, Lisa Garcia's mother, said Lineberry was shot across the street from her home.

Lisa Garcia said that she and Lineberry had been returning from a family cookout.

Garcia's two older daughters were being dropped off for a sleepover with their cousin, Garcia said. She said her sisters were in the driveway at the house for the drop-off and ran to help when she started screaming after the shooting.

Lineberry had been shot in the shoulder, but the bullet continued into his abdomen, striking a major artery, Garcia said.

The pickup was just 3 or 4 inches from Lineberry's vehicle when he was shot, she said. She said she heard just one shot, but police found two cartridge casings at the scene.

Lineberry had wondered aloud about the pickup that had been following them, Garcia said. They figured it was a drunken driver.

A sport utility vehicle, which Garcia described as a Chevrolet Blazer, followed the pickup. Its occupants screamed at Lineberry after the shooting, Garcia said, “to basically add salt to the wound.”

Lineberry jumped out of the car, saying he had been shot. He started running and then fell onto his face on the concrete, his girlfriend said.

She said she tried doing everything at once: search for her cell phone to call for help, get her girls out of the car to safety and rush to Lineberry. Her sisters grabbed the girls. Others called 911.

Garcia, who had a six-year relationship with Lineberry, said the two had just found a rental house for their family after living in an apartment. They talked about getting engaged next year.

Lineberry started an overnight stocking job at Oriental Trading Co. about a week ago, she said. “He was just doing his best to take care of us.”

Garcia said her girls were traumatized by what they saw, especially the two older girls, who considered Lineberry their father. The 3-year-old understood only enough to say that her father had been shot and went on to become an angel, Garcia said.

“I'm completely numb,” she said Sunday evening. “I have to be strong for my daughters, keep my composure.”

“Andy was a good man,” Myrna Garcia said. “He and Lisa were very happy. He was very good with the little girls.”

Court records show Lineberry had been convicted of misdemeanor crimes but no felonies. In 2005, he served six months in the Douglas County Jail for carrying a concealed weapon.

In 2007, Lineberry testified against Cody Thaden in the killing of Salvador Pina Jr. Thaden pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 40 to 70 years in prison. He must serve 20 years before he is eligible for parole and could serve up to 35 before he is released.

Lineberry testified then that he and Thaden had been kicked out of a party. They returned to retaliate, and Pina chased them away. Lineberry said he turned to see Thaden pointing a gun at Pina's chest and firing.

Lineberry was not charged in Pina's death.

World-Herald staff writer Jonathon Braden contributed to this report.

Contact the writer:

444-1272, kevin.cole@owh.com

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