OMAHA, NE — The Omaha community is mourning the heartbreaking loss of 17-year-old Sevyn Bellar-White, a Millard North High School senior whose life was cut short in a tragic shooting on Halloween night.
According to the Omaha Police Department (OPD), two 18-year-olds — Rayquan Bass and Yourhansay Gonzales-Washington — have been arrested in connection with the fatal incident. Authorities confirmed the pair were taken into custody Wednesday in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and later transferred to Douglas County for prosecution.
Investigators say Bass faces charges including second-degree murder, use of a firearm to commit a felony, and possession of a defaced firearm. Gonzales-Washington is charged with possession of a defaced firearm, tampering with evidence, and accessory to a felony.
The deadly shooting occurred just before midnight on October 31 near 36th and Polk Streets in South Omaha, where a Halloween gathering had drawn a crowd of young people. Responding officers discovered Bellar-White suffering from critical gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival, despite the efforts of emergency personnel.
At Millard North High School, grief has gripped the student body and staff as they remember Sevyn as a bright, kindhearted young man with a contagious smile and a promising future. Tributes continue to flood social media, and classmates have placed flowers, photos, and messages at a growing memorial site on campus. School officials have arranged counseling and emotional support services for students struggling to cope with the loss.
Police say the arrests followed several days of coordinated investigative work, including forensic analysis, interviews, and surveillance review. Law enforcement leaders praised the joint effort between Omaha and Council Bluffs authorities, which ultimately led to the suspects’ capture.
Community leaders and local advocates are calling for reflection and unity, urging youth to turn away from violence and seek peaceful solutions to conflict. Authorities continue to encourage anyone with additional information about the shooting to contact the Omaha Police Homicide Unit or submit anonymous tips through Omaha Crime Stoppers.
The senseless death of Sevyn Bellar-White has left a deep wound in Omaha — a painful reminder of the toll violence takes on young lives and the communities that love them.