Lincoln man gets life in prison for killing neighbor in dispute over dog

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A 31-year-old Lincoln man will spend the rest of his life in prison for murdering his neighbor.

Armon Rejai received a life sentence Tuesday for the shooting death of 18-year-old Julian Martinez.

On the morning of Jan. 21, 2023, court documents say Rejai got into an argument with his neighbors near 18th Street and Euclid Avenue.

SEE ALSO: Court documents allege how dispute over dog led to slaying of Lincoln teen

The dispute was over an unleashed dog, police said.

Rejai said the neighbors yelled “various obscenities” at him, according to an arrest affidavit.

He fired pepper spray at them and went back inside his home, police said.

SEE ALSO: Argument over pets led to fatal shooting of Lincoln teen, police say

Then one of the neighbors, Martinez, began “beating” on the door, the affidavit says.

Rejai grabbed a gun, and when the banging stopped, he opened the door and shot Martinez.

The victim was taken to a hospital, where he died.

Rejai pleaded no contest to second-degree murder in May.

SEE ALSO: Neighbor recounts Lincoln shooting, says she heard victim howl in pain