James Gray-Wilson Jr., 19, was sentenced after a jury found him guilty in the 2025 shooting of a 16-year-old girl. The sentence totals decades across five felony counts; Gray-Wilson also faces a separate escape charge arising from his flight from the courtroom after the verdict.
The jury returned its verdict on June 26, 2026, finding Gray-Wilson guilty of use of a firearm to commit a felony, attempted robbery, first-degree assault, discharge of a firearm, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, according to WOWT. After the verdict was read, he ran into the judge's chambers and then a hallway, where deputies caught him. An affidavit from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office says he resisted deputies and reached for a deputy's holstered firearm, attempting to defeat its retention device, according to footage reviewed by WOWT.
Gray-Wilson was booked into Douglas County Corrections on an escape charge following the struggle. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office, which oversees court security and inmate transportation at the courthouse, has not detailed whether the incident will prompt changes to how high-risk defendants are moved through the building following a verdict.
Sentencing Follows Five Felony Convictions
The station reported that Gray-Wilson is estimated to become eligible for parole in 20 years. He was given credit for 377 days already served.
How Nebraska calculates parole eligibility
For consecutive indeterminate sentences, Nebraska law generally calculates parole eligibility using one-half of the total minimum term. The statute also provides alternate calculations tied to the mandatory-discharge date, so an individual eligibility estimate depends on the aggregate sentence and the applicable calculation, according to the Nebraska Legislature.
Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said the case reflects his office's focus on prosecuting violent crime and illegal firearm use, while continuing its work for victims and public safety.
Escape Charge Still Pending, New Attorney Assigned
Separate from the sentencing, Gray-Wilson still faces an escape charge tied to his courtroom flight. He has pleaded not guilty to that charge and is scheduled to appear in court again on October 20.
His original public defender withdrew from the case because the attorney is a potential witness if the escape charge goes to trial. Gray-Wilson is now represented by an assigned private attorney as the case moves toward its next hearing.
A separate incident at the Douglas County Courthouse was reported on February 27, 2024: two men scheduled to appear in court attempted to bring loaded handguns into the building, according to Omaha.com. Hoodline has separately covered other serious Omaha felony cases.
