BLOOMFIELD – The Nebraska State Patrol arrested two individuals following a shooting the morning of Feb. 20 in Bloomfield that claimed the lives of two people, who also have been identified.
Law enforcement officials – including State Patrol Capt. Dain Hicks and Knox County Sheriff Don Henery – held a press conference the morning of Feb. 21 at the Bloomfield Community Center to provide an update on the investigation. Hicks expressed condolences from law enforcement to the families of both shooting victims – identified as Curtis “Curt” Strom, 77, Bloomfield, and William Reffett, 49, Center – as well as to the entire community of Bloomfield.
“This would be a shocking event to any community, especially in a town as tight-knit as Bloomfield,” Hicks said.
Hicks noted the investigation is ongoing. “Our goal in this investigation is to lead to a successful prosecution,” Hicks said. At about 9:32 a.m. Feb. 20, the sheriff’s office received a report of a shooting that had occurred at Curt’s Lanes and Dining – of which Strom had been the owner of since 1973 – located at 112 W. Grant St. in Bloomfield.
Shortly after the incident was reported, several Bloomfield businesses either went into a lockdown for a period of time or closed for the rest of the day. Bloomfield Community Schools also went into a lockdown until receiving an “all clear” message from law enforcement officials during the early afternoon of Feb. 20.
At the bowling alley, the sheriff’s office and Bloomfield Police Department located two deceased men, each with apparent gunshot wounds, inside the bowling alley, Hicks said.
The police department requested assistance from the State Patrol to investigate the incident.
“Shortly into the investigation, authorities detained multiple persons of interest,” Hicks said. “NSP troopers and investigators arrived on scene and began their investigation.”
During the preliminary part of the investigation, the State Patrol identified Alias Reed, 25, Bloomfield, as a person of interest. Reed was located a short time later and taken into custody.
According to court documents, Reed allegedly walked into the bowling alley the morning of Feb. 20 with a shotgun concealed inside a cardboard box, initiated an argument with Reffett, an employee of Strom’s, and then shot Reffett. Moments later, Reed allegedly shot Strom.
During an interview with law enforcement officials, Reed allegedly said he went to the bowling alley with the intention to kill Reffett and Strom, according to court documents.
“Reed disclosed that he entered the business and removed the shotgun from the box. Reed stated that he saw Reffett and that he told Reffett that he was going to rob him,” said a State Patrol investigator in court documents.
The State Patrol investigator, according to court documents, said Reffett started walking to the back of the bowling alley after Reed threatened him.
Reed allegedly followed Reffett into the back and shot him and then allegedly shot Strom.
“Reed told investigators that he figured since he was there, he may as well take the money from the business,” said the State Patrol investigator in court documents. “Reed stated that he took the money from a wallet and out of the register.”
Hicks noted Strom was not involved with the altercation between Reed and Reffett, and the context and substance of the argument are still under investigation.
No other people were reported to be at the bowling alley at the time of the shooting.
Law enforcement officials believe Reed went to his girlfriend’s parents’ house after leaving the bowling alley.
Reed and Reed’s girlfriend, 27-year-old Kaylyne Sweazy, were located a short time later at her parents’ home.
Following further investigation, Reed was arrested for two counts of first-degree murder in the case. He also is facing two counts of using a firearm to commit a felony.
Hicks noted Reed – who has been lodged at the Knox County Jail in Center – also will be charged with robbery after money was found to have been stolen from the bowling alley.
Sweazy was arrested for tampering with physical evidence and has been lodged at the Antelope County Jail in Neligh.
According to court documents, Sweazy allegedly admitted during an interview with law enforcement officials that she helped Reed and told them the shotgun was located in a ditch near a rural road west of Bloomfield.
“Investigators went to this location and found a shotgun in the immediate vicinity of where Sweazy stated that it would be,” said the State Patrol investigator in court documents.
Hicks noted investigators believe both Reed and Sweazy allegedly traveled to the rural location to dispose of the shotgun.
“During the investigation, troopers located the shotgun believed to be used in the murders – in a ditch along a county road several miles west of Bloomfield,” Hicks said.
Both Reed and Sweazy are to be in court in Knox County on March 7 for arraignment hearings. Reed is being held without bond, while Sweazy’s bond has been set at $100,000.
Several people gathered at the Bloomfield veterans memorial the evening of Feb. 20 for a candlelight vigil, organized to provide support to community members and victims’ families.
“Again, our thoughts are with the families of these two victims, as well as with the entire community of Bloomfield,” Hicks said. “We understand that the community may desire more information about the details of this investigation, but our goal is for this to result in a successful prosecution.”
