Lincoln man killed near homeless shelter; ‘He was important to us’

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The Lincoln Police Department is investigating a homicide that took place early Wednesday morning near Third and P Streets.

Shortly before 2 a.m., authorities were called to the area, where they found a 60-year-old Lincoln man deceased in a grassy area.

The man was killed with some kind of bladed weapon, just before crews arrived, according to Lincoln Police Chief Teresa Ewins.

Authorities shut down the intersection while investigating but have since reopened the area.

LPD says that though the suspect is not in custody, “there is no ongoing threat to the public.”

The victim was found near Community Action, a nonprofit that provides assistance to people in poverty, and just blocks from the People’s City Mission.

Police have not confirmed the identity of the man that was killed, or whether he was homeless.

But Pastor Tom Barber, CEO of the mission, said that he knew the victim and that the man had been staying there on and off for years, before he was suspended about a week ago for an infraction.

“It affects our morale because we knew him and he was important to us, and we really, we feel really bad,” Barber said. “It’s like the loss of a family member, when something like this happens. The homeless community is a very close community — they all know each other — and so when someone like this passes away in this manner, it creates a lot of, just a lot of anxiousness, a lot of concern, a lot of fear among the people that are staying with us.”

Barber said the People’s City Mission is the only homeless shelter in Lincoln, housing about 80% of the homeless population. He says they are there for whoever needs it, free of charge.

“We know that some of them struggle a lot with various problems and issues, and occasionally things like this happen,” he said. “You know, it’s one of the very sad things. We care deeply about all the people that stay with us, and anytime something like this happens, it’s very tragic to us because we want to see all these guys OK and trying to get better.”

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Lincoln Police at 402-441-6000 or CrimeStoppers at 402-475-3600.