FAIRBURY, NE — A Fairbury man accused of shooting a man and killing a child has a trial date set for one of his cases.
18-year-old Jake Gonzalez appeared via video conference in Jefferson County District Court on Thursday morning. He waived his right to a speedy trial on first-degree assault and weapons charges and the judge set his trial to begin on October 18. Gonzalez’s attorney, Ben Murray, said there is a possibility of a plea agreement that includes his second case.
The assault and weapons charges date back to last year. Authorities say he shot Lance Powers multiple times on May 18, 2020. Powers required a medical helicopter flight to Lincoln to care for his wounds.
In February, while out on bond, Gonzalez was accused of fatally injuring a two-year-old boy. He faces child abuse resulting in death and terroristic threats charges in that case and is scheduled for a pretrial conference on June 17.
