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Man shot by deputy in New Year’s Eve shootout charged

ELBA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a 30-year-old Broken Bow man shot during a New Year’s Eve shootout with central Nebraska law enforcement has been charged with attempted murder.

Court documents say Luke Lefever has been charged with two counts of attempted murder, being a felon with a gun and being a habitual criminal.

Howard County Sheriff Tom Busch tells NTV that Lefever shot a handgun at a deputy around 9:30 p.m. Dec. 31 during a traffic stop on Highway 11 near Elba.

Busch says Lefever fled in a sheriff’s vehicle, where he had access to a shotgun. After a second exchange of gunfire, Lefever fled on foot and was found by SWAT officers in a creek bed with the help of a helicopter and police dog.

Officials say when apprehended, Lefever was suffering from hypothermia and a gunshot wound to his left forearm. No one else was hurt. He remains hospitalized, and his bond has been set at $1 million.

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