UPDATE: OPD identify suspect in Monday morning shooting on I-80

UPDATE: 8/8/2023 9:47 AM
The Omaha Police have identified the suspect in Monday morning's shooting on the interstate.

Here's what we know from police:

According to OPD, Charles Stuart, 33, was arrested for 1st degree felony assault, use of a weapon to commit a felony, and shooting at an occupied vehicle related to this incident.

Aaron Traynham, 33, was identified as the victim who was injured from the shooting. He suffered a minor injury.

UPDATE 1:34 PM:

A shooter is in custody, according to OPD, following an incident on the interstate. A victim was taken to the hospital in serious condition, but is expected to recover.

At approximately 11:30 a.m. on Monday, a naked man with a gun was reported near the 1-680 southbound/I-80 eastbound as well as a gunshot victim. The shooter was firing his gun, according to police, and hit a motorist.

"It's difficult to presume what had happened," said Capt. Mark Matuza of the Omaha Police Department West Precinct. "I didn't speak to the actual suspect, but I'm thinking mental health episode. We hear of somebody taking off their clothes and, even more so, escalating into — where there actually are shots fired, and the unfortunate part is that persons had driven by and he had shot at a vehicle that had driven by. That person's going to be okay, our victim of the shooting. It could have been a lot worse."

Police say the suspect is a man in his early '30s. He was driving a red, Chevy pickup that is registered in Iowa. The suspect was rounding a corner on I-680 when he got into an accident, hit the median, and got out of his vehicle. Police allege that the suspect stood in the middle of the road, shot at the victim, then took his clothes off and ran.

The victim, who is also a male in his early '30s, was hit above the chest area either by a bullet or fragments from his windshield, but police believe it was the windshield.

Matuza emphasizes that it could have been a lot worse as there was a bullet hole in his windshield. The victim drove away after being hit and is being treated at the hospital. He is expected to recover.

"A lot of cops got there really quick. It sounded like it actually was an active shooting on the interstate, so fortunately he just shot at one person. I don't believe there was a connection between those two people (shooter and victim," said Matuza.

Police say the shooter was using a handgun. They don't know yet how the alleged shooter got the firearm or whether he legally possessed it. He was take to CUMC-Bergan Mercy Medical Center.

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There is a heavy traffic jam, due to law enforcement activity, between Exit 445: I-L-Q Streets; West Center Road and Exit 446: I-680.

Molly Hudson and Bo Peterson contributed reporting to this story.

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