THE DARK SIDE OF NEBRASKA
Harry Winefeldt
#51657
photo courtesy NDCS
Full Name: Harry R. Winefeldt
DOB: November 22, 1978
Charge: Manslaughter
County: Douglas
City: Omaha
Current Status: Released
Partner in crime: Michael Sims
Date of Crime: March 25, 1997
Victim: Nathan Coleman
DOB: November 22, 1978
Charge: Manslaughter
County: Douglas
City: Omaha
Current Status: Released
Partner in crime: Michael Sims
Date of Crime: March 25, 1997
Victim: Nathan Coleman
On March 24, 1997, Michael J. Sims, 20, a resident of Omaha, purchased a Maverick 12-gauge shotgun, a Norinco model SKS 7.62 MMX .39-caliber semiautomatic assault rifle, and ammo for each from Arms and Ammo Sporting Goods in Fremont. On the following day, Michael and Harry Winefeldt drove into a residential neighborhood in Omaha and fired these weapons at Nathan Coleman and William Booth. Nathan Coleman was fatally injured.
Christopher Cannon, who was 22 years old and a previously convicted felon at the time of trial, testified that on five to eight occasions he obtained marijuana from Michael, sold it to others, and then paid a portion of the proceeds to Michael and retained the remainder for himself. He characterized this transaction as "fronting," which a law enforcement witness confirmed to be a common means of marketing illicit drugs.
Christopher testified that he obtained marijuana from Michael under a "fronting" arrangement a day or two before March 25, 1997. Christopher testified that on that afternoon, he had a phone conversation with Mikeal Gatewood during which Mikeal expressed interest in purchasing one-half pound of marijuana from him. Christopher informed Mikeal that the price would be $550 and instructed him to meet him at the home of Christopher's parents, located at 2532 Hartman Avenue in Omaha, later that day to conclude the transaction. Christopher then contacted his friend Harry Winefeldt and asked that he accompany him during the meeting with Christopher to provide protection as he had done during several of Christopher's prior drug transactions.
Christopher drove his blue and white 1977 Chevy Blazer to his parents' home where he parked in the driveway and met Harry, who lived next door. Harry sat in the front passenger seat of the Blazer while he and Christopher waited for Mikeal to arrive, and then Harry moved to the rear seat when Mikeal and another man approached. Mikeal's companion entered the rear seat of the Blazer, and Mikeal sat in the front passenger seat. Christopher had packaged marijuana in four cellophane bags contained within a larger bag and placed it in the console situated between the two front seats. Mikeal informed Christopher that he did not have enough money to conclude the transaction and stated that he would go to an ATM and return immediately. He and his companion left while Christopher and Harry remained seated in the Blazer, waiting for their return.
When Mikeal returned 15 to 20 minutes later, Christopher placed the marijuana on a cup holder where Mikeal could see it. Mikeal acted as though he was about to reenter the vehicle but instead grabbed the marijuana and fled. Knowing that Harry had a weapon, Christopher told him to get out of the vehicle and "get him," referring to Mikeal. Harry exited the vehicle and pointed a handgun at the fleeing Mikeal while Christopher yelled, "C'mon back with my shit." No shots were fired because Harry's weapon lacked a firing pin and was therefore inoperable.
Christopher observed Mikeal enter his vehicle and leave the area. Christopher told Harry that they should go after Mikeal and his companion and "smoke" them, but his attempt at immediate pursuit was thwarted by his inability to locate the ignition key to the Blazer. After he eventually found it under the seat approximately 10 minutes later, Christopher and Harry drove around the immediate area in an unsuccessful effort to find Mikeal. Harry testified that following the theft, Christopher threatened to shoot Mikeal if he did not recover the marijuana.
Mikeal and Nathan Coleman had been close friends for six or seven years. Mikeal had been visiting at Nathan's home, located at 3908 Ellison Avenue prior to his meeting with Christopher on March 25, and returned there immediately after taking the marijuana from Christopher's vehicle. Nathan was not home when Mikeal arrived sometime between 5 and 5:30 PM, so Mikeal obtained the permission of Nathan's fiance, who also lived there, to park his car in Nathan's garage. Mikeal left the residence with a friend at approximately 6 PM to obtain materials used to smoke marijuana.
When he returned a short time later, he encountered Nathan, who was walking to the door of his home. Several other persons, including Nathan's fiance and children, were also present at the time. After entering the house briefly, Mikeal went outside to watch for the blue and white Blazer because he suspected that Christopher might be searching for him in order to retaliate for the theft.
Christopher testified that after Mikeal took the marijuana and eluded him, he called Joshua Hill, whom he knew to be a close friend of Michael Sims, to determine Sims' whereabouts. He and Harry then proceeded to the automotive garage where Michael worked. When they arrived, Christopher went inside and found Michael. The two men went outside and Christopher informed Michael of the theft. Christopher testified that Michael responded by saying, "Let's get 'em. Let's go." Christopher, Michael and Harry then left in the Blazer, stopping first at Harry's home to drop off his non-functioning handgun and then proceeding to Michael's home near 30th and Newport Streets. Christopher testified that during this drive, he and Michael discussed the theft of the marijuana which angered both of them.
Christopher testified that Michael briefly entered his home and returned to the vehicle carrying a box which contained a 12-gauge shotgun and an SKS assault rifle. As Michael entered the rear seat of the Blazer, he placed the box containing the weapons on the floor. Christopher then drove to a pawnshop near 30th and Laurel Streets and went inside to purchase cigarettes and a beverage. When he returned to his Blazer, he observed Harry seated in the front seat holding the shotgun and talking on a cell phone, and Michael seated in the rear seat loading the assault rifle. Christopher stated that he entered the Blazer and drove off to look for Mikeal but was unsuccessful.
At 6:34 PM, Christopher received a page from his wife who was in her 9th month of pregnancy. He immediately placed a call to his wife using his cell phone. His wife told him that she may be going into labor so he drove directly to his home, arriving there between 6:40 and 6:45. Christopher stated that he got out of the vehicle to attend to his wife and Michael said, "I'll handle this," as he and Harry drove off in the Blazer with Michael behind the wheel.
Harry testified that as he and Michael drove in the vicinity of 39th Street and Sorensen Parkway, he spotted Mikeal standing in front of a residence near 39th and Ellison. Sorensen Parkway runs parallel to Ellison and was visible from Nathan's residence, which faced south. Ellison Avenue is a no-outlet street which extends west from its intersection with 39th Street to a cul-de-sac at its west end. There are duplexes on the north and south sides of Ellison and Nathan's residence was on the east half of the second duplex west from 39th Street on the north side of Ellison.
According to Harry, Michael drove to the middle of the intersection and stopped. As two or three individuals from the Nathan residence approached the Blazer, Michael took the assault rifle from the floor of the Blazer and instructed Harry to use the shotgun to shoot the approaching men before they could shoot them. Although he did not observe any weapons in the possession of the individuals who were approaching, Harry observed them raise their shirts and display gang signs. Harry fired three or four shots from the shotgun, hitting both Nathan and William Booth, and then opened the door of the Blazer. Harry testified that he mistook Nathan for Mikeal because both were of similar build and complexion and wore their hair in the same fashion.
Harry testified that after firing the shotgun, he heard shots from the assault rifle and observed Michael outside the vehicle shooting at Nathan and William. Nathan, who was attempting to get away after being shot by Harry, fell to the ground when Michael fired the assault rifle. As Michael and Harry drove off in the Blazer, Harry observed Mikeal, carrying a gun, come around the side of a building. Michael then took Harry home.
Christopher Cannon, who was 22 years old and a previously convicted felon at the time of trial, testified that on five to eight occasions he obtained marijuana from Michael, sold it to others, and then paid a portion of the proceeds to Michael and retained the remainder for himself. He characterized this transaction as "fronting," which a law enforcement witness confirmed to be a common means of marketing illicit drugs.
Christopher testified that he obtained marijuana from Michael under a "fronting" arrangement a day or two before March 25, 1997. Christopher testified that on that afternoon, he had a phone conversation with Mikeal Gatewood during which Mikeal expressed interest in purchasing one-half pound of marijuana from him. Christopher informed Mikeal that the price would be $550 and instructed him to meet him at the home of Christopher's parents, located at 2532 Hartman Avenue in Omaha, later that day to conclude the transaction. Christopher then contacted his friend Harry Winefeldt and asked that he accompany him during the meeting with Christopher to provide protection as he had done during several of Christopher's prior drug transactions.
Christopher drove his blue and white 1977 Chevy Blazer to his parents' home where he parked in the driveway and met Harry, who lived next door. Harry sat in the front passenger seat of the Blazer while he and Christopher waited for Mikeal to arrive, and then Harry moved to the rear seat when Mikeal and another man approached. Mikeal's companion entered the rear seat of the Blazer, and Mikeal sat in the front passenger seat. Christopher had packaged marijuana in four cellophane bags contained within a larger bag and placed it in the console situated between the two front seats. Mikeal informed Christopher that he did not have enough money to conclude the transaction and stated that he would go to an ATM and return immediately. He and his companion left while Christopher and Harry remained seated in the Blazer, waiting for their return.
When Mikeal returned 15 to 20 minutes later, Christopher placed the marijuana on a cup holder where Mikeal could see it. Mikeal acted as though he was about to reenter the vehicle but instead grabbed the marijuana and fled. Knowing that Harry had a weapon, Christopher told him to get out of the vehicle and "get him," referring to Mikeal. Harry exited the vehicle and pointed a handgun at the fleeing Mikeal while Christopher yelled, "C'mon back with my shit." No shots were fired because Harry's weapon lacked a firing pin and was therefore inoperable.
Christopher observed Mikeal enter his vehicle and leave the area. Christopher told Harry that they should go after Mikeal and his companion and "smoke" them, but his attempt at immediate pursuit was thwarted by his inability to locate the ignition key to the Blazer. After he eventually found it under the seat approximately 10 minutes later, Christopher and Harry drove around the immediate area in an unsuccessful effort to find Mikeal. Harry testified that following the theft, Christopher threatened to shoot Mikeal if he did not recover the marijuana.
Mikeal and Nathan Coleman had been close friends for six or seven years. Mikeal had been visiting at Nathan's home, located at 3908 Ellison Avenue prior to his meeting with Christopher on March 25, and returned there immediately after taking the marijuana from Christopher's vehicle. Nathan was not home when Mikeal arrived sometime between 5 and 5:30 PM, so Mikeal obtained the permission of Nathan's fiance, who also lived there, to park his car in Nathan's garage. Mikeal left the residence with a friend at approximately 6 PM to obtain materials used to smoke marijuana.
When he returned a short time later, he encountered Nathan, who was walking to the door of his home. Several other persons, including Nathan's fiance and children, were also present at the time. After entering the house briefly, Mikeal went outside to watch for the blue and white Blazer because he suspected that Christopher might be searching for him in order to retaliate for the theft.
Christopher testified that after Mikeal took the marijuana and eluded him, he called Joshua Hill, whom he knew to be a close friend of Michael Sims, to determine Sims' whereabouts. He and Harry then proceeded to the automotive garage where Michael worked. When they arrived, Christopher went inside and found Michael. The two men went outside and Christopher informed Michael of the theft. Christopher testified that Michael responded by saying, "Let's get 'em. Let's go." Christopher, Michael and Harry then left in the Blazer, stopping first at Harry's home to drop off his non-functioning handgun and then proceeding to Michael's home near 30th and Newport Streets. Christopher testified that during this drive, he and Michael discussed the theft of the marijuana which angered both of them.
Christopher testified that Michael briefly entered his home and returned to the vehicle carrying a box which contained a 12-gauge shotgun and an SKS assault rifle. As Michael entered the rear seat of the Blazer, he placed the box containing the weapons on the floor. Christopher then drove to a pawnshop near 30th and Laurel Streets and went inside to purchase cigarettes and a beverage. When he returned to his Blazer, he observed Harry seated in the front seat holding the shotgun and talking on a cell phone, and Michael seated in the rear seat loading the assault rifle. Christopher stated that he entered the Blazer and drove off to look for Mikeal but was unsuccessful.
At 6:34 PM, Christopher received a page from his wife who was in her 9th month of pregnancy. He immediately placed a call to his wife using his cell phone. His wife told him that she may be going into labor so he drove directly to his home, arriving there between 6:40 and 6:45. Christopher stated that he got out of the vehicle to attend to his wife and Michael said, "I'll handle this," as he and Harry drove off in the Blazer with Michael behind the wheel.
Harry testified that as he and Michael drove in the vicinity of 39th Street and Sorensen Parkway, he spotted Mikeal standing in front of a residence near 39th and Ellison. Sorensen Parkway runs parallel to Ellison and was visible from Nathan's residence, which faced south. Ellison Avenue is a no-outlet street which extends west from its intersection with 39th Street to a cul-de-sac at its west end. There are duplexes on the north and south sides of Ellison and Nathan's residence was on the east half of the second duplex west from 39th Street on the north side of Ellison.
According to Harry, Michael drove to the middle of the intersection and stopped. As two or three individuals from the Nathan residence approached the Blazer, Michael took the assault rifle from the floor of the Blazer and instructed Harry to use the shotgun to shoot the approaching men before they could shoot them. Although he did not observe any weapons in the possession of the individuals who were approaching, Harry observed them raise their shirts and display gang signs. Harry fired three or four shots from the shotgun, hitting both Nathan and William Booth, and then opened the door of the Blazer. Harry testified that he mistook Nathan for Mikeal because both were of similar build and complexion and wore their hair in the same fashion.
Harry testified that after firing the shotgun, he heard shots from the assault rifle and observed Michael outside the vehicle shooting at Nathan and William. Nathan, who was attempting to get away after being shot by Harry, fell to the ground when Michael fired the assault rifle. As Michael and Harry drove off in the Blazer, Harry observed Mikeal, carrying a gun, come around the side of a building. Michael then took Harry home.
Source: FindLaw