‘It’s getting worse and worse’: Lincoln families worry about recent violence

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — In less than a week, Lincoln has had two homicides.

Those were the first of the year, but they are raising concerns about crime in the capital city.

The most recent homicide happened Tuesday in the Everett neighborhood near 11th and G streets.

One man who has lived nearby for more than 20 years said he’s concerned.

“You didn’t hear anything about these crimes, and now lately, it’s getting worse and worse,” Joshua Burton said. “I don’t even like bringing my kids outside no more.”

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Others are also worried. 

Steven J. Mudica moved to Lincoln from the West Coast about 13 years ago to escape from crime. 

“When I moved here, it was the second-safest place in the United States as far as cities and states,” he said. “I just don’t feel it’s the same anymore.”

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 Violent crime held steady in the first three months of 2024, compared with the same time the year before, according to Lincoln Police Department data.

From January to March, 199 violent crimes were reported, an increase of 0.05% from the year before, the data show.

Homicides, rapes, attempted rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults make up the violent crime category.

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Both Burton and Mudica said there’s more local government could do to make the community safer.

“They can implement some programs.” Mudica said. “There’s a lot of programs that bigger cities utilize, and they seem to work.”

Burton said people should go through stricter mental health background checks before they can buy a gun.

“Do harder background checks on these people that are carrying these guns,” he said.   

Channel 8 reached out to Lincoln City Council members about efforts to curtail crime, but no one provided a comment.

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