NEBRASKA CITY – Donald Pack, 23, of Nebraska City was sentenced to five to 16 years in prison for unintentional manslaughter after a New Year’s Eve shooting.

In a plea agreement, a charge of second degree murder of David Holmes was reduced to manslaughter.

 

Defense Attorney Michael Ziskey said Pack and Holmes had been friends for years and the shooting was an accident as the men celebrated the new year.

Investigators say Pack brought a gun to the party and both men had “messed with it.”

At preliminary hearing, Cpt. Lonnie Neeman said Pack pointed the gun at Holmes and pulled the trigger.

Pack fled the scene and was located about three blocks away.

Pack also entered guilty pleas to child abuse pertaining to children who were at the house at the time of the shooting.

Included in the definition of manslaughter under Nebraska law, is causing the unintentional death of another while in the commission of an unlawful act.