Anthony Whitewater, 24, and Marcus Blackhawk, 27, both enrolled members of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, are behind bars after a federal jury convicted them of assault with a dangerous weapon and use of a firearm during a crime of violence. On January 23, 2017, U.S. District Chief Judge Laurie Smith Camp sentenced Whitewater to 241 months in federal prison and Blackhawk to 121 months. The convictions stem from a violent, high-speed gunfire rampage that terrorized a rural road in the early hours of May 2, 2016.
The chaos began at a party in Winnebago, Nebraska, where Whitewater became embroiled in a physical altercation. After being punched in the face and suffering a bloody nose, he was ejected from the gathering. Enraged, Whitewater vowed to return. What followed was not a confrontation—but a calculated ambush. Believing the man who had struck him was fleeing the scene in a vehicle, Whitewater set out to hunt him down, armed and furious.
Riding as a passenger in a car driven by his brother, Marcus Blackhawk, Whitewater initiated a high-speed pursuit across Winnebago County roads. As the chase unfolded, Whitewater opened fire on the fleeing vehicle with a loaded firearm. Seven bullets ripped through the target car. Miraculously, neither occupant was injured. Shockingly, investigators later confirmed the victims had no connection to the earlier fight—innocent bystanders caught in Whitewater’s reckless vendetta.
Compounding the severity of the crime, Whitewater was a prohibited person under federal law, banned from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions. His decision to arm himself and open fire wasn’t just violent—it was a direct violation of federal statutes designed to keep weapons out of the hands of dangerous offenders. The use of a firearm during a crime of violence triggered mandatory minimum sentencing under federal guidelines.
Blackhawk, though not the shooter, played a critical role by driving the pursuit vehicle, enabling Whitewater’s attack. His cooperation in the chase led to his conviction on the same federal charges. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by Deborah R. Gilg, emphasized that aiding and abetting violent acts carries steep consequences, especially when firearms are involved in crimes on tribal and federal land.
The FBI led the investigation, piecing together witness statements, ballistics evidence, and vehicle damage to secure the convictions. Federal prosecutors underscored the message: vigilante justice and firearm violence will be met with maximum penalties. Whitewater and Blackhawk now face years in the custody of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons—justice delivered, not by the barrel of a gun, but by the weight of the law.
RELATED: Anthony Whitewater, Marcus Blackhawk Convicted in Winnebago Shooting
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Key Facts
- State: Nebraska
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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