COLUMBUS, NE — A Nebraska man pleaded guilty to second-degree murder after admitting he lured his stepfather to a Walmart parking lot under false pretenses and shot him multiple times with a handgun.
Manuel Alejandro Mesa-Cabrera, 26, accepted the plea deal for killing 42-year-old Anhil Mirabal Hernandez on May 27, 2025, outside the Walmart located at 818 East 23rd Street in Columbus. The case represents a shocking betrayal of family trust, with prosecutors alleging Mesa-Cabrera deliberately planned the murder days in advance. Court documents show Mesa-Cabrera also pleaded guilty to a weapons charge in connection with the shooting. He faces sentencing in April and could receive decades in prison for the premeditated attack on his stepfather.
The deadly encounter unfolded around 6:20 p.m. when Mesa-Cabrera asked Hernandez to accompany him to the retail store to help shop for a vehicle part, according to authorities. After the two men parked in the Walmart lot, Mesa-Cabrera pulled out a 9mm Smith and Wesson handgun and shot Hernandez in both the chest and head before fleeing the scene. Columbus Police Captain Doug Molczyk said officers discovered Hernandez lying on the ground with apparent gunshot wounds when they responded to the parking lot. “Officers immediately rendered aid until Columbus Fire Department medics arrived on scene,” Molczyk stated. Emergency responders transported Hernandez to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead from his injuries.
Mesa-Cabrera turned himself in to authorities shortly after the shooting, telling police “he knew he was going to be arrested,” according to court documents obtained by Lincoln-based CBS affiliate KOLN. An arrest affidavit revealed that Mesa-Cabrera had been previously diagnosed with schizophrenia but was not taking medication or receiving medical treatment for his condition at the time of the murder. Investigators believe Mesa-Cabrera made the decision to kill his stepfather in the days leading up to that spring evening, suggesting premeditation despite his mental health history. Police records show Mesa-Cabrera had legally purchased the Smith and Wesson handgun just two weeks before using it in the fatal shooting. The weapon was obtained through proper legal channels, raising no red flags with authorities until after the homicide occurred.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about untreated mental illness and access to firearms in domestic violence situations. Columbus police had not previously responded to calls involving Mesa-Cabrera and Hernandez, according to department records, making the sudden violence particularly shocking to the local community. The Walmart location where the shooting occurred serves as a popular shopping destination for Columbus residents, and the broad-daylight attack in the busy parking lot sent ripples of concern through the Nebraska town of approximately 24,000 people. Mental health advocates have pointed to the case as an example of how untreated psychiatric conditions can escalate to deadly violence, particularly when combined with easy access to firearms and family stressors.
Prosecutors originally charged Mesa-Cabrera with first-degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a felony, charges that could have resulted in life imprisonment if he had been convicted at trial. The plea agreement to second-degree murder likely spares Mesa-Cabrera from the most severe penalties while ensuring he faces significant prison time for the calculated killing. Nebraska law allows for sentences ranging from 20 years to life for second-degree murder, giving the judge considerable discretion at the April sentencing hearing. Legal experts expect Mesa-Cabrera’s untreated mental illness to be a factor in determining his final sentence, though it will not excuse his actions. The weapons charge adds additional potential prison time to any sentence the court imposes for the murder conviction.
Family members and community residents expressed relief that Mesa-Cabrera accepted responsibility for his actions rather than forcing them to endure a lengthy trial. Hernandez’s relatives declined to speak publicly about the case but issued a brief statement through prosecutors expressing their continued grief over losing him in such a senseless act of violence. The Walmart store remained open following the shooting, though management increased security measures in the parking lot area where Hernandez died. Columbus police have praised the quick response of officers and medical personnel who attempted to save Hernandez’s life, even though their efforts ultimately proved unsuccessful given the severity of his gunshot wounds.
Mesa-Cabrera remains in custody at the Platte County Jail awaiting his sentencing hearing scheduled for April. The exact date has not yet been set by the court, but prosecutors expect it to occur within the first two weeks of the month.
