Husband and wife found dead, 71-year-old neighbor dies after being injured in explosion

GLENWOOD, Iowa (WOWT/Gray News) - Authorities in Iowa identified the people involved in an apparent dispute that turned deadly on Wednesday night.

“Preliminary investigation suggests the shooting stemmed from an interpersonal dispute between the parties,” according to an Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation news release.

The Department of Criminal Investigation said 38-year-old Brandon Oman was pronounced dead at the scene and his 35-year-old wife, Stevie Oman, was transported to Nebraska Medical Center, where she later died from her injuries.

Dennis Burnell, 71, was critically injured in a fire, but later died from his injuries.

Authorities said he was initially taken into custody after exiting the burning home.

“(He) has been identified as the person responsible for the Omans’ deaths,” the release states.

Glenwood Mayor Angie Winquist issued a statement Thursday afternoon.

“My heart goes out to everyone impacted by the tragic shooting incident that occurred in Glenwood on the evening of August 6, 2025,” Winquist said, in part.

When Glenwood police, Mills County deputies and Iowa State Patrol troopers arrived at the scene on Grove Street just before 8 p.m. Wednesday, the home was already on fire.

“I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the Glenwood Police, Glenwood Fire and Rescue, Mills County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa State Patrol and all other agencies that responded and for your courageous and heroic efforts. Without a second thought, you always put the safety of our community first,” Winquist added.

In what’s been called an isolated incident by police, Wednesday night’s shooting and explosion has very much rocked the Glenwood neighborhood.

“My anxiety is up. My mental is kind of cloudy, man. This world is crazy,” resident Antawn Hunt said.

Hunt was getting home from grocery shopping when everything began to unfold.

“I get out the car and that’s where I heard yelling and screaming coming from around the corner. So, I’m like, ‘They’re just arguing or whatever.’ So, I started taking the groceries out of my vehicle, and something told me to turn around and look, and I kept hearing those shots,” Hunt said.

Dylan Walling, who lives in apartments along Grove Street where the incident happened, said he was woken up by the gunshots and later found out his neighbor’s window had been shot.

“I was thinking to myself, I said, ‘What if I got up and bullets come through my apartment window and I got hit?’” Walling said.

Madison Gregg, who also lives in the apartments, said she was thankful she wasn’t home Wednesday night.

“I was over at my father-in-law’s helping my husband fix his dad’s truck as they’re moving. I was over there seeing my cameras were going haywire,” she said.

Some residents in the area suggested that there had been an ongoing neighborhood dispute.

“I think I am still in shock,” said resident Sarah Allbritton. “It is hard to imagine. You see stuff like this on TV, on television, then it happens right down your street.”

Allbritton lives a couple of houses away from the scene. At the time, she was at home with her husband and two kids. She remembers hearing a gunshot exchange before seeing a plume of smoke from her porch.

“We saw the smoke and the fire, and there were lots of people outside just watching what was going on,” said Allbritton. “We later found out that the couple had been killed by the neighbor.”

“It is tragic. It’s a tragedy,” said Allbritton.

Allbritton said she was aware of Burnell in the neighborhood, but her interactions were limited.

“I have seen him out in the street,” explained Allbritton. “I know that he has caused issues in the neighborhood.”

Allbritton has two kids, a 9-year-old daughter and an 8-year-old son. The son attended school with the victim’s daughter.

“My son did have a math class with her, so he does know her, and I have told him what happened, but I do not think he really quite understands it to a degree,” said Allbritton.

Allbritton says she was planning to let her daughter start walking to her nearby school, but due to safety concerns, that plan is now off the table.

“Now I have this in the back of my mind. Is it even safe? Is there somebody else that has a similar background? Will it be safe for her to walk to school?” said Allbritton. “That was another reason that drew me to a town like this. I would not have to worry as much about her safety. Is she is out and about and on her own?”

Despite her caution, Allbritton said she does feel safe in her neighborhood and has no plans to move.

“I love Glenwood. I am really happy we moved here,” said Allbritton.

The community is what drew her to Glenwood when the family decided to move from Omaha a few years ago.

Police and the Mills County Sheriff’s Office were first called to the incident as an “active shooter situation” in the area of 4th and Grove Street.

Law enforcement barricaded the neighborhood after an emergency alert went out from Mills County Emergency Management. Residents were asked to remain clear of the area.

As the investigation continues, anyone with information should contact Glenwood police at 712-527-4844.

The Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation is also assisting with the investigation.