On Oct. 3, 2025, police found 51-year-old Jennifer McCarther dead in her Lincoln home with multiple gunshot wounds.
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Lincoln's homicide victims of 2025
1. Philmoon Kuku
At about 11:50 a.m. Feb. 16, officers with the Lincoln Police Department responded to the area of 13th and E streets on reports of gunshots.
They arrived to find 34-year-old Philmoon Kuku with a gunshot wound to his chest.
According to court records, a witness told police Kuku had been speaking with a man, alleged to be Timothy Washington, in a black Chevy Impala, when the car drove off, then pulled up again and fired a gunshot.
Capt. Ben Miller said the witness saw Kuku fall to the ground, holding his chest.
Kuku, who was born in Sudan and had three children, died at the hospital.
Washington was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
3. Bu Gay
Lincoln police were called to a domestic violence-related murder-suicide just after midnight March 19.
Officers arrived to find Pah To, 44, dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, along with 40-year-old Bu Gay and her 13-year-old son with gunshot wounds in their apartment complex near South 22nd and G streets.
Both Gay and the 13-year-old were taken to a Lincoln hospital, where Gay died of her injuries. The boy was treated at an Omaha hospital and was expected to survive.
4. Baby Greenwood
On Aug. 26, 36-year-old Ryan Goodwood was arrested in connection with the death of his 4-month-old daughter. The baby’s autopsy indicated she died earlier in August from a traumatic brain injury and had injuries consistent with shaken baby syndrome, police said in court filings.
The mother, 28-year-old Tanya Greenwood, was arrested on August 28.
Both Ryan and Tanya Greenwood where charged with child abuse resulting in death.
A Lincoln police investigator said police learned Ryan Greenwood was “playing rough” with the child on Aug. 13. The next day, he called 911 about 5:20 a.m. saying he checked on the child a half hour prior after waking up and the child was dead.
7. Ja'rell Wheeler
On Dec. 4, Lincoln Police responded to the Casey's at 1001 S. 13th St. on reports of gunshots and found 24-year-old Ja'rell Wheeler with gunshot wounds. He was taken to a hospital where he died.
Police arrested Emanuel Claypool, 23, on suspicion of second-degree murder for fatally shooting his brother, Wheeler, and injuring a 38-year-old bystander.
On Dec. 9, the Lancaster County Attorney's Office said they weren't filing charges at this time over concerns about self-defense.
7. Matthias Washington
On Nov. 22, Lincoln Police responded to the Parkview Apartments near North Ninth Street and Belmont Avenue on a report of a shooting where they found 30-year-old Matthias Washington with a gunshot wound.
Lincoln Police Capt. Ben Miller said there was a series of altercations between Washington and a relative, a 34-year-old Lincoln man, throughout the day that ultimately led to the shooting. The two were staying in the apartment.
On Nov. 25, Washington died at a Lincoln hospital from his injuries. He had been on life support.
As of Nov. 26, the case remained open to determine if the 34-year-old was acting in self-defense.
Washington’s family said in a GoFundMe post that Washington was a devoted father to two sons and a loving son and brother.
