Omaha, Nebraska

From the Omaha World-Herald of November 30, 2005
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One dead, one injured in Benson shooting

With a gun pointed at his business partner's head, an owner of Benson Jewelry and Loan shot at two men attempting to rob the pawnshop Tuesday afternoon, the wife of one of the shop's owners said.

The shooting left one of the men who entered the shop dead and another in extremely critical condition.

The owners of the shop, Norm Sargent and Ken Blankenship, are fine, said Sargent's wife, Beth, when reached at home.

Beth Sargent said her husband told her two men were robbing the store and one pointed a gun to her husband's head. She said her husband told her that Blankenship shot at the robbers.

Norm Sargent and Ken Blankenship were still at police headquarters giving statements late Tuesday night.

Police would not confirm Tuesday night details of how the shooting occurred, or who had done the shooting. Police Officer Andrew Passo did say, however, that no suspects were being sought.

Killed in the shooting was Kendall Tealer, 18. The other shooting victim, Brandon Bowie, 17, was in critical condition at the Nebraska Medical Center. A radio dispatcher said rescue workers attempted to resuscitate one man en route to the hospital. A hospital spokeswoman declined to give a report on Bowie's condition late Tuesday night.

From Omaha’s WOWT.com of December 2, 2005

No Charges Against Pawn Shop Owner

Acted in self defense

The Douglas County Attorney will not file charges against the owner of a Benson pawn shop following a fatal shooting this week.

County Attorney Stu Dornan has reviewed the evidence and determined that Ken Blankenship Sr. fired at would be robbers in self-defense.

Dornan's review of the evidence indicated the suspects were in the store for about 15 seconds and that the shots were fired over a period of five seconds.

Blankenship shot and wounded 17-year-old Brandon Bowie who was holding a handgun to the head of the pawn shop's co-owner. He then turned and fired on 18-year-old Kendall Tealer Jr. after Blankenship claimed Tealer had grabbed a shotgun sitting behind the store's counter. He fired again at Tealer's back as he was running out of the store. Tealer died in the street in front of the pawn shop.

For the first time Dornan's review of the evidence indicated that Tealer was also carrying a loaded weapon and had pointed it at Blanekenship's head.

Dornan says he will file charges of robbery and use of a weapon against Bowie who remains hospitalized following the shooting.

From Omaha’s WOWT.com of August 23, 2006

Pawnshop Plea

Suspect doesn't contest charges

Eighteen-year-old Brandon Bowie has pleaded no contest to charges in connection with a botched robbery of a Benson pawnshop.

In November, Bowie and Kendall Tealer were shot when they tried to rob the Benson Jewelry and Loan. Bowie was paralyzed and Tealer died.

The Douglas County attorney found that the store's owner acted in self-defense when he shot the two armed robbers.

Bowie entered his plea Tuesday and will be sentenced in November. He faces up to 70 years in prison.