Omaha Resident Pleads No Contest to Terroristic Threats
John Channels, a 29-year-old man from Omaha, Nebraska, has pleaded no contest to four counts of making terroristic threats in connection with a controversial active shooter drill conducted in 2022. The plea, made on Tuesday, is part of a deal with prosecutors who agreed to dismiss an additional charge of using a firearm to commit a felony.
Active Shooter Drill Causes Panic
The incident took place at Omaha Catholic Charities, where Channels, hired by the organization, conducted an active shooter drill that went alarmingly wrong. Dressed in a black hoodie and mask, Channels fired blanks from a semiautomatic handgun, creating a realistic and terrifying scene. He also staged “victims” covered in fake blood, simulating a real attack.
Channels, who owned a security company and claimed to be a “civilian police officer,” assured the charity that he had experience conducting similar drills and that law enforcement officers would be present. However, neither the police nor the employees were informed beforehand, leading to chaos as workers fled in fear and officers responded to frantic emergency calls with weapons drawn.
Legal and Emotional Fallout
Douglas County prosecutor Don Kleine criticized the drill, warning that it could have led to severe consequences, such as a heart attack or the potential for Channels to be shot by an officer or another individual. The psychological impact on the employees was also significant, with one worker filing a lawsuit against the charity after injuring her back while escaping. She was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. However, the lawsuit was dismissed, with the judge ruling that the matter should be addressed in Workers’ Compensation Court.
Additional Criminal Charges
In a separate case, Channels also pleaded no contest on Wednesday to charges including first-degree sexual assault, first-degree sexual assault of a child, and possession of child sexual abuse materials. As part of this plea deal, prosecutors dropped 22 additional counts related to possession of child sexual abuse materials and sexual assault.
Sentencing Awaited
Channels is scheduled to be sentenced on October 25, facing a prison term ranging from 21 years to life for the combined charges. The plea deals mark the culmination of legal proceedings that have brought to light the dangerous and reckless nature of the 2022 active shooter drill, as well as Channels’ involvement in other serious criminal activities.
