A Nebraska resident, indicted for the tragic shooting of Creighton University’s baseball operations director, has been mandated by a judge to remain in a psychiatric institution. The order follows a decision that he was not responsible for the crime due to insanity. The court has directed that Ladell Thornton undergo a thorough evaluation to develop an appropriate treatment plan.
Thornton opted out of a jury trial regarding charges that include the first-degree murder of Chris Gradoville. Gradoville, a notable former Creighton baseball player from 2004 to 2007, became the director of operations for the baseball team in the fall of 2020. The incident took place in 2021, marking a devastating loss for the university and the community.
According to officials, Gradoville was tragically shot when he visited a house in Omaha. He had recently renovated and sold this property to a real estate firm, which was leasing it to Thornton. Gradoville had visited the home to complete a repair job promised to the realty company.
Annie Petersen from the Douglas County Public Defenders Office highlighted how Thornton’s escalating mental health issues were overlooked due to his solitary lifestyle. She indicated that his increasing paranoia led him to withdraw from his social circle, resulting in a lack of intervention or recognition of his condition. This isolation meant that no one was available to affirm to Thornton that the voices and thoughts he experienced were not based in reality or that medication could have been beneficial.
Prior to the shooting, Thornton, whose criminal history is extensive, had pleaded no contest to the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Should there be a future court-approved release from the psychiatric facility, he would be required to fulfill a sentence for this firearm offense. The charge carries a potential prison sentence of up to 50 years.
Creighton University, situated in Omaha, continues to mourn the loss of a valued team member and esteemed community figure.