OMAHA, Nebraska (WOWT) – The uncle of the 32-year-old man who introduced an AR-15 loaded with AR-15s into an Omaha Goal retailer within the West on Tuesday stated the person had struggled with psychological well being for years. and his household to six Information. tried to assist him

“He was a very good boy, a candy boy,” Larry Dirksen Jr. stated in an interview with 6 Information on the residence he shared with nephew Joseph ‘Joey’ Jones.

Jones died Tuesday after firing a number of photographs into the goal.

“I do not assume he ever meant to enter that retailer and damage anybody.”

The neighborhood is aware of about Jones’ habits, however what they do not know is his lengthy historical past of psychological well being issues.

Derksen says Jones has been identified with paranoid schizophrenia.

“It began about three years in the past. He got here to imagine the cartel was after him,” says Derksen.

Jones intermittently packed up and drove to different states, ultimately returning when he ran out of cash. Derksen stated he had frequent seizures and had a number of occasions bought or introduced residence a gun.

“The bottom rule was that if you happen to’re right here, you may’t have a firearm,” says Derksen. “You gotta do the precise factor, medicine, alcohol, see a physician, get some medication. He tried to try this for some time, however his voice will not cease.”

His household did what they may. In a single incident, Dirksen says Jones demanded the gun be returned, and Dirksen referred to as the police.

I stated, “Hey, my nephew is schizophrenic. He is demanding he not give again his gun.” [but] They needed to come right here and, by legislation, truly give him the gun again. ”

Jones has since been discharged and has been out and in of hospitals and amenities.

A couple of months in the past, he drove to Kansas and was arrested for mendacity down on an interstate. Derksen says Jones believed the cartel would kill his household if he did not kill himself. He was then positioned in one other psychological well being facility.

“, so many occasions me and his grandmother tried to beg them, ‘He wants assist,’ however all they may actually do was put him within the hospital for 3 days, and let him keep for 3 days. It is simply upkeep and medication,” he says. “However while you’re in critical emotional misery and have a prognosis like his, it wasn’t sufficient for him to be clear sufficient to make a rational choice.

Two weeks earlier than he set foot in Goal, Dirksen stated he had reported to the FBI that Jones had give up a job he beloved and was going through some type of harassment.

Final week, the FBI confirmed up at Duplex to speak to Jones.

“Here is the lengthy historical past of this 32-year-old man with a historical past of schizophrenia, he has no assist, no medical health insurance, no want for remedy. No person needs him wholesome.” We do not pressure or pressure you to be wholesome, and coming to what occurred the opposite day, it is predictable.”

Derksen says he was out of city when Jones purchased the AR-15 4 days earlier than he confirmed up at Goal.

“We did not understand he had a firearm. If we had recognized, we’d have tried to take it away from him or name legislation enforcement, however nonetheless, How can I purchase a firearm after repeated hospitalizations with paranoid schizophrenia?”

Derksen says the American system is damaged, however that does not excuse Jones’ actions.

In a message to the neighborhood, Derksen hopes individuals will perceive what Jones and his household went by means of.

“We had been damage as a household due to the ache that was inflicted on everybody who was at Goal. We had been damage due to the legislation enforcement officers who needed to make that alternative. I am sorry for what occurred. and I imagine the officer did what he ought to have finished,” he says. I hope you all perceive that I’ve a well being problem, I believe this isn’t a gun problem, it is a psychological well being problem, and till we deal with this problem, issues like it will by no means occur. will proceed.”

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