A man has pleaded guilty to second‑degree murder in the fatal shooting of his stepfather after arranging to meet him at a Walmart to “look for a vehicle part,” authorities say.
Case Details and Guilty Plea
Manuel Mesa‑Cabrera, 26, admitted in court that he asked his 42‑year‑old stepfather, Anhil Mirabal Hernandez, to join him on May 27, 2025, at the Walmart located at 818 East 23rd Street in Columbus, Nebraska.
Once the men were at the store, Mesa‑Cabrera pulled out a 9 mm Smith & Wesson handgun and shot Hernandez in the chest and head, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by local outlets.
Mesa‑Cabrera was previously diagnosed with schizophrenia but was reportedly not under treatment or taking medication at the time of the shooting. Authorities believe he had decided to kill his stepfather in the days leading up to the deadly encounter.
Police Response and Aftermath
Officers from the Columbus Police Department responded to the Walmart parking lot at about 6:20 p.m., where they found Hernandez lying on the ground with gunshot wounds. Columbus Fire Department medics attempted to provide aid, but Hernandez was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Mesa‑Cabrera turned himself in shortly after the incident, telling police he knew he would be arrested, the affidavit states. He was initially charged with first‑degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a felony, and prosecutors noted he had legally purchased the handgun about two weeks before the shooting.
Sentencing and Impact
Mesa‑Cabrera has now pleaded guilty to second‑degree murder and is expected to be sentenced in April. The plea marks a significant development in a case that shocked the Columbus community, particularly given the circumstances of the crime and Hernandez’s death at the hands of someone close to him.
