A community mourns a Ralston High School student tragically killed by gunfire.Omaha police said 18-year old Tanner Farrell was shot at a home on 161st Avenue, just off Harrison Street Saturday night.He was taken to the hospital where he later died.The young baseball player is remembered as a great team member on and off the field.Saturday night, 18-year-old Tanner Farrell told his baseball coach he wasn’t good at bowling.The team was out for a bonding event.Farrell ended up on the winning team. His score aiding in that. “We had a painted plastic bowling pin that said Ralston team bowler of the year and handed it to him,” said Tom Cooper, head coach of Ralston baseball.Hours later, around 10:00 p.m., Farrell was shot and killed in a home off 161st and Harrison.”I’d literally just seen him,” Cooper said.Cooper gathered his team Sunday morning for a meeting.“In my 20 years of coaching that’s probably the hardest thing I have ever had to do. There’s just no handbook or manual for preparing the guys for something like that,” Cooper said.Assistant coach Rich Christensen said Farrell transferred from Millard West in the summer and quickly fit in.“Right away gelled with the players immediately, became really right friends with the majority of the team instantly,” Christensen said.A tough ask for a transfer student, especially as a senior.Christensen said that points to what kind of a person Farrell was.”Tanner was a light on this ball club and he’s going to be missed incredibly,” Christensen said. “He was infectious in the dugout, such an easy kid to coach.”The two said after time players become like family to coaches and Farrell is no exception.The magnitude of his death is weighing heavy on the head coach.”He’s kind, he’s nice to everybody, he’s a tremendous leader. His loss is going to be felt really deeply not only around our program but around the school and the community,” Cooper said. The team promises to honor him this season.”The number ‘6’ is going to carry a lot of weight around here for a while,” Christensen said.No arrests have been made. If you have any information, you’re asked to call crime stoppers. That number is 402-444-stop. The school district sent an email alerting parents that counselors would be available for students at the school.Ralston’s baseball team put a tribute on their page for him saying “With great sadness, we regret to inform you of the passing of Senior baseball player Tanner Farrell. This is a tragic loss for the Ralston High School and Ralston Baseball communities. Please keep your thoughts with the Farrell family in this tough time.”Ralston Public Schools says if students were unable to make it to counseling sessions on Sunday to contact the Safe2Help Hotline at 531-299-SAFE (7233). The district will be alerted to any calls and will direct the appropriate staff to contact the student or family.His coaches set up a GoFundMe to help pay for funeral expenses. Click here to help.
A community mourns a Ralston High School student tragically killed by gunfire.
Omaha police said 18-year old Tanner Farrell was shot at a home on 161st Avenue, just off Harrison Street Saturday night.
He was taken to the hospital where he later died.
The young baseball player is remembered as a great team member on and off the field.
Saturday night, 18-year-old Tanner Farrell told his baseball coach he wasn’t good at bowling.
The team was out for a bonding event.
Farrell ended up on the winning team. His score aiding in that.
“We had a painted plastic bowling pin that said Ralston team bowler of the year and handed it to him,” said Tom Cooper, head coach of Ralston baseball.
Hours later, around 10:00 p.m., Farrell was shot and killed in a home off 161st and Harrison.
“I’d literally just seen him,” Cooper said.
Cooper gathered his team Sunday morning for a meeting.
“In my 20 years of coaching that’s probably the hardest thing I have ever had to do. There’s just no handbook or manual for preparing the guys for something like that,” Cooper said.
Assistant coach Rich Christensen said Farrell transferred from Millard West in the summer and quickly fit in.
“Right away gelled with the players immediately, became really right friends with the majority of the team instantly,” Christensen said.
A tough ask for a transfer student, especially as a senior.
Christensen said that points to what kind of a person Farrell was.
“Tanner was a light on this ball club and he’s going to be missed incredibly,” Christensen said. “He was infectious in the dugout, such an easy kid to coach.”
The two said after time players become like family to coaches and Farrell is no exception.
The magnitude of his death is weighing heavy on the head coach.
“He’s kind, he’s nice to everybody, he’s a tremendous leader. His loss is going to be felt really deeply not only around our program but around the school and the community,” Cooper said.
The team promises to honor him this season.
“The number ‘6’ is going to carry a lot of weight around here for a while,” Christensen said.
No arrests have been made. If you have any information, you’re asked to call crime stoppers. That number is 402-444-stop.
The school district sent an email alerting parents that counselors would be available for students at the school.
Ralston’s baseball team put a tribute on their page for him saying “With great sadness, we regret to inform you of the passing of Senior baseball player Tanner Farrell. This is a tragic loss for the Ralston High School and Ralston Baseball communities. Please keep your thoughts with the Farrell family in this tough time.”
Ralston Public Schools says if students were unable to make it to counseling sessions on Sunday to contact the Safe2Help Hotline at 531-299-SAFE (7233). The district will be alerted to any calls and will direct the appropriate staff to contact the student or family.
His coaches set up a GoFundMe to help pay for funeral expenses. Click here to help.