Former Seward County deputy charged in fatal shooting

Anthony Gann was booked into the Lancaster County Jail on Thursday on suspicion of manslaughter, according to the jail's website.

Vance said Gann resigned from his position at the sheriff's office as a result of the charges.

Gann turned himself in to authorities on Thursday after charges were formalized.

The Nebraska State Patrol has not provided the Seward County Sheriff's Office with its investigation into the October incident, Vance said.

An internal investigation by the sheriff's office did not show that Gann committed any violations or violated procedure during the shooting, Vance added.

The incident occurred Oct. 23 on I-80 and began around 3:10 p.m. when the Seward County officer attempted to stop a driver, later identified as 43-year-old Jorge Santana-Ramirez.

According to a press release from the sheriff's office the week the shooting occurred, Santana-Ramirez allegedly turned around and drove the wrong way, headed east in the westbound lanes, then crossed into the eastbound lanes and finally stopped.

Gann had attempted to stop the same vehicle that week before in Seward County after seeing illegal substances in sight, Vance said, but stopped pursuing the case.

The following week, when the officer recognized the same car in Seward County, he attempted a traffic stop again and tracked the vehicle into Lancaster County, where the fatal shooting occurred.

Nebraska State Patrol officers and troopers attempted life-saving measures at the scene, but Santana-Ramirez died at the scene.

Lancaster County Attorney Pat Condon said in an email to the Journal Star that the grand jury documents will remain sealed until Monday.