76-year-old Omaha woman recounts being forced out of her home at gunpoint before standoff
By Aaron Hegarty
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OMAHA (KETV) — A 76-year-old Omaha woman is speaking out after being forced out of her home at gunpoint by an intruder.
The intruder, who police said had a felony warrant and fled from police, died by suicide following a standoff. The incident happened Sunday evening in the Harvey Oaks neighborhood northwest of 144th and West Center Road.
Cleanup crews began working on Labor Day at Renee Corcoran’s home.
Neighbors said they heard gunshots as Read shot his way inside Corcoran’s backyard basement door Sunday evening.
“I just was worried about Renee,” said neighbor Staci Wise. “She was there by herself.”
Corcoran said she didn’t initially hear the gunshots.
“I was watching something on TV where there was an alarm going off,” she said. “Some movie where there was a break-in at a jewelry store.”
When her 10-year-old cat Archie became anxious, she realized the alarm she was hear wasn’t only on TV.
“He got all flustered,” Corcoran said. “And that’s when I started going down the stairs and encountered my visitor. He yelled at me, ‘Turn off that alarm.’ And I said, ‘Get out of my house.'”
Corcoran refused to turn off the alarm.
“I wanted it on if he’s going to stay in my house,” she said.
When Read pointed a gun at her, Corcoran left. She sought refuge with Wise and her family at another neighbor’s home across the street. A police officer stayed with them.
Corcoran commended the police response.
“I was hoping he (Read) would just walk out,” she said.
Omaha police said they negotiated with Read extensively via text messages for hours.
“I just feel sorry for him. Because from everything that I’ve heard, it’s somebody that really needed help,” Corcoran said.
Neighbors praised Corcoran’s strength in handling the situation.
“This is a safe area,” Wise said. “You never know. So be aware. Always be aware of your surroundings.”
The Harvey Oaks Homeowner’s Association is rallying to support Corcoran, who learned Monday it could take six to nine months to restore her home. They set up an online fundraiser that’s raised $2,750 as of Monday evening.
Corcoran said she understands the city will pay for damages caused by police. She plans to make an insurance claim for damage caused by Read.
Despite the ordeal, Corcoran has no plans to leave the house she has lived in for 31 years.
Corcoran also asked for people to stop driving by her house just to look at it.
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