Lincoln man arrested after kidnapping UNL student at gunpoint

Posted by: Channel 8 Newsroom
8@klkntv.com

A man is behind bars after kidnapping a UNL student at gunpoint, and forcing him to drive them around downtown Lincoln Saturday morning.

The Lincoln Police Department tells us 25-year-old Kyle Dinius approached the 19-year-old student around 9:30 a.m. after he pulled into his apartment complex, and demanded a ride.

LPD says when the student refused, Dinius pulled out a handgun and threatened to kill the student if he didn’t drive them to a nearby gas station.

At one point during the drive, police say Dinius got out of the car, grabbed a machete, jumper cables, and pipes from a yard, and then got back into the car.

Dinius told the student several times that he knew where he lived and would kill him if he drove off without him.

LPD says the student was eventually able to send a message for help to his girlfriend, who then called the police, around 10:30 Saturday morning.

LPD and UNLPD were able to locate the two, on the east side of the Devaney Center, where Dinius was arrested.

The UNL student was uninjured and released back to his residence.

Authorities say Devaney is a white male and was a transient.

A weapon was not recovered.

Authorities are still investigating.