Suspect in Polk County murder-suicide dies in hospital, authorities say

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The suspect in the Polk County murder-suicide has died in the hospital, the Nebraska State Patrol announced on Thursday.

According to the state patrol, 40-year-old Wesley Absher died on Wednesday afternoon at Bryan West in Lincoln.

SEE ALSO: Authorities identify suspect, victim involved in murder-attempted suicide in central Nebraska

The state patrol said Absher traveled to a business located near County Road T and 127th Road, just south of Shelby, and shot another man.

Authorities said the victim — 44-year-old Brian Gabel — was pronounced dead at the scene. He was the owner of the business.

A female victim was also present at the business during the shooting and was kidnapped by Absher, the state patrol said.

She was taken to a farm near County Road S and 129th Road, where Absher assaulted her, authorities said.

Investigators said Absher shot himself at the farm.

The female victim was able to drive herself to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in Osceola to report the shooting just after 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

Absher was taken to Bryan West in Lincoln with life-threatening injuries. The female victim was taken to the Columbus Community Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

According to the state patrol, the female victim and Absher are going through a divorce.

Court records show that Absher bonded out of jail just four days before the murder-attempted suicide.

He was charged with second-degree assault and terroristic threats in a separate case that involved the same female victim in February.