Survived by father George M. Ely, Jr.; mother Denise (Derek) Cohn; siblings: Alexis Ely, Breanna Harvill, Samantha Ely, Amanda (Jimmy) Lineberry, Richelle Rydberg, Theodore Cohn and Dane "Demi" Cohn; numerous nieces and nephews and a host of beloved family members and friends. Preceded in death by grandparents George M. and Mary M. Ely, Sr. and Andy and Mary Dearborn.

Celebration of Life Service Saturday, May 20th at 12:00PM with Visitation 1 hour prior at John A. Gentleman Mortuaries 72nd Street Chapel. Memorials to the family for later designation.

#2-Posted Friday, May 12, 2023 Enterprise Media Group

By Cheyenne Alexis - features@enterprisepub.com

A Council Bluffs, Iowa, man is wanted following an early morning shooting in Blair which left one person dead and one injured.

Elijah E. Logan of Council Bluffs, 22, is at-large as of 11:20 a.m.

According to a press release, the Blair Police Department was dispatched to a residence in the 1000 block of Park Street at 6:30 a.m. Friday morning on report of a shooting with injuries.

"Upon arrival, officers located two victims, a male, and a female. The female victim had gunshot wounds to her legs," the report read. "Officers rendered aid until emergency personnel could arrive and transported the female party to the hospital. The second male victim was pronounced deceased at the scene.

"(Douglas) County Crime Lab and Blair Officers continue to investigate the scene for witnesses and video footage that may be of investigative assistance. Any resident in the nearby area with exterior surveillance camera systems is encouraged to notify the police department. The investigation is ongoing."

Jordan Ely and Samantha Ely were identified as the victims, according to a report from KETV. Jordan was pronounced dead at the scene.

Logan is 5 foot 9 inches and 175 pounds. He was seen leaving the area in a green 1988 Jeep Cherokee with Iowa plates NAM 032.

"Metro Law Enforcement agencies along with (U.S. Marshals) are currently assisting in the location of Logan," the report read. "Blair Police ask that anyone who has additional information please call 402-426-4747 or if they see Elijah E. Logan or the vehicle call 911. Future updates may be provided as they become available."

Blair Community Schools Supt. Randy Gilson released a statement and sent to parents:

"Blair Community Schools is aware of a shooting that occurred at approximately 6:30 a.m. this morning in a residential area near the High School," the statement read. "One person is deceased. Law enforcement has secured the area.

"At this time, Blair Community Schools is in our Secure protocol. This means students and staff will be allowed into the building. All exterior and interior doors will be locked at all times. All recesses and outside activities will be held inside until Secure protocol is lifted. No visitors will be allowed into buildings until secure is lifted.

"The suspect is known to authorities and has fled the area. 10th and Park Street, near the high school will be closed today.

"Student attendance is optional. As more information becomes available, we will provide updates. Buses will run on a regular schedule. "

#3 Printed in the Omaha World-Herald May 16, 2023

Blair man killed in shooting called hero

KEVIN COLE--WorldHerald Staff Writer

Funds are being raised to help with funeral expenses for a 34-year-old man being hailed as a hero for protecting his sister from a gunman in Blair on Friday.

Blair police said Jordan Ely, 34, was fatally shot inside his family's residence near 10th and Park Streets about 6:30 a.m. His sister, Samantha Ely, 22, was shot in both legs and taken to an Omaha hospital for treatment.

Officers were called to the home near Blair High School for a report of shooting. Jordan Ely was pronounced dead at the scene.

Elijah E. Logan, 22, of Council Bluffs, who was identified by witnesses as the shooter, turned himself in to authorities "without incident" Monday, a statement from the Blair Police Department said. He was arrested on a warrant on suspicion of first-degree assault and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony. The Washington County Attorney's Office will review and possibly amend the charges in the coming days, the statement said.

Logan is the father of Samantha Ely's 7-month-old son, who was also in the house but was not injured.

Alexis Ely, 27, of Omaha, said her brother Jordan put himself between Logan and her sister, Samantha.

Alexis Ely said Jordan Ely was sleeping but woke upon hearing his sister's "cry for help." He ran upstairs to his sister's bedroom, where reports say he confronted Logan, who had allegedly broken into the house.

"Most people would run away or hide from the sound of an intruder, but not Jordan," Alexis Ely said. "He lost his life saving our sister and our nephew, and I know for a fact he would choose the same path if given the opportunity to do it again. My brother died a hero."

Alexis Ely said her brother did not have life insurance, and funeral expenses "are adding up." She asked anyone who is able to donate toward the funeral costs.

"Any money left over will go to help my sister with her medical expenses," she said. "She has a long road to go. We don't even know if she will even be able to walk again."

#4 Funeral leaflet

(photo)

In Loving Memory of Jordan M. Ely

Born August 12, 1988 Omaha, Nebraska ~ Died May 12, 2023 Omaha, Nebraska

Celebration of Life Saturday May 20, 2023 12:00pm. John A. Gentleman 72nd Street Chapel.

Survived by father George M. Ely, Jr.; mother Denise (Derek) Cohn; siblings: Alexis Ely, Breanna Harvill, Samantha Ely, Amanda (Jimmy) Lineberry, Richelle Rydberg, Theodore Cohn and Dane "Demi" Cohn; numerous nieces and nephews and a host of beloved family members and friends. Preceded in death by grandparents George M. and Mary M. Ely, Sr. and Andy and Mary Dearborn. Celebration of Life Service Saturday, May 20th at 12:00PM with Visitation 1 hour prior at John A. Gentleman Mortuaries 72nd Street Chapel. Memorials to the family for later designation.

Published by John A. Gentleman Mortuaries - 72nd Street Chapel on May 15, 2023.

#5-Editorial: Power of community put on display after Friday’s shooting

Posted Friday, May 19, 2023 Enterprise Media Group

Last Friday morning, the city of Blair was thrust into the spotlight for something that hadn’t occurred here in 40 years.

A Council Bluffs man, whose name is now widely known and will not be mentioned here, allegedly injured Samantha Ely and killed her brother, Jordan. The suspect was taken into custody on Monday.

This marked the first potential homicide case in Blair since the killing of Mary Jo Hovendick in 1983.

The lives of a family have been forever shaken, and the broader community of Blair has also had to deal with the shock, anger and mourning that stems from such an event.

And in dealing with those emotions, the people of Blair have shown what kind of place Blair truly is.

As of Wednesday morning, a GoFundMe for the Ely family’s funeral expenses and medical bills has compiled 170 donations and sits at $14,250, which has well surpassed the goal of $5,000.

A meal train has also been organized for the Ely family, and there is currently an open date on May 30. The next open date after that is June 6. Every day before those dates has been filled by generous members of the community.

In wake of tragedies that put communities to the test, the character of that community is put on display for all to see. Blair has passed that test with flying colors.

That’s what Blair is and will continue to be. While we work together to lift up the Ely family and recover from this unexpected occurrence, let us find comfort in the fact that the people of the broader Blair community will always be there to lend a helping hand.

~~~Obituaries and funeral leaflet courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

FindaGrave # 253994766