Anthony Whitewater, Marcus Blackhawk Convicted in Winnebago Shooting

A high-speed, gunfire-laced revenge chase through the Winnebago reservation has ended in federal convictions for Anthony Whitewater, 24, and Marcus Blackhawk, 27. A federal jury found both men guilty of assault with a dangerous weapon and use of a firearm during a crime of violence stemming from a violent incident in the early hours of May 2, 2016.

Whitewater, already a convicted felon, escalated a bar fight into a federal offense when he opened fire during the pursuit of a vehicle he believed carried his attacker. After being punched in the face and kicked out of a party in Winnebago, Nebraska, Whitewater vowed retaliation. Within minutes, he was riding in a car driven by Blackhawk, speeding down dark reservation roads, firing a handgun at a fleeing vehicle.

The target vehicle, occupied by members of the Omaha Nation Indian Tribe, was struck seven times. Miraculously, no one was injured. Shell casings scattered along the roadside and bullet holes in the rear and passenger side told the story of a near-fatal assault. Whitewater’s gun was later confirmed to be in his possession illegally due to prior felony convictions.

Federal prosecutors painted a picture of rage and recklessness. “This wasn’t self-defense. This was retaliation with live ammunition,” said U.S. Attorney Deborah Gilg. “The use of a firearm in a violent chase on public roads endangered not just the intended target, but every bystander in the path.”

Whitewater faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison on the firearm charge—on top of up to 10 years for assault—plus an additional 10 years for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Blackhawk, the driver, faces the same assault and firearm charges with a minimum 10-year mandatory sentence consecutive to any other term. Sentencing is scheduled for January 23, 2017, before Judge Laurie Smith Camp.

The FBI led the investigation, collecting forensic evidence, witness statements, and ballistics reports that sealed the convictions. Authorities emphasized that crimes involving firearms on tribal lands fall under federal jurisdiction, especially when multiple tribes are involved. The verdict sends a clear message: vengeance with a gun is a one-way ticket to a federal cell.