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The 23-year-old Lincoln man suspected of shooting and killing another man early Sunday was acting in self-defense, an attorney said Monday.
Lendell Harris was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder and use of a weapon to commit a felony. But attorney Dick Clark characterized the 28-year-old who was shot as the aggressor in the situation.
In fact, Harris surrendered himself to the Lancaster County Jail immediately after the shooting, Clark said.
“He, under his own steam, took himself to authorities after this incident and notified them,” Clark said.
Lincoln Police Capt. Jake Dilsaver wouldn’t confirm that Monday, nor would he release other details. But he said the department will provide more information — including the name of the man killed — at its media briefing Tuesday.
Officers were called to an apartment complex in the 300 block of North 44th Street at about 7:15 a.m. Sunday, where they found the man with gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Anyone with knowledge about the incident is asked to call the Lincoln Police Department at (402) 441-6000 or Crimestoppers at (402) 475-3600.
Harris
Man killed in early morning shooting at Lincoln apartment complex
Man killed in early morning shooting at Lincoln apartment complex
Judge sends Lincoln man to jail for rollover crash that killed passenger
Judge sends Lincoln man to jail for rollover crash that killed passenger
Florida man arrested after fatal crash on Interstate 80 on Saturday
Florida man arrested after fatal crash on Interstate 80 on Saturday
Most dangerous cities in Nebraska
Dangerous Cities in Nebraska
See how your hometown ranks among the most dangerous cities in Nebraska. Ratings have been determined according to the number of violent crimes per 1,000 people in cities of at least 10,000, with violent crime being classified as murder, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault. The numbers are for 2019, the most recent year for which the FBI provides data.
6. South Sioux City
With 30 violent crimes in 2019 and a population of 12,771 (the smallest on our list), the city in northeast Nebraska had 2.35 violent crimes per 1,000 people.
Photo: An RV park in South Sioux City on the Missouri River.
5. Scottsbluff
The city of 15,862 had 53 violent crimes for a rate of 3.34 per 1,000 in 2019.
Photo: Gering Police Officer Jordan McBride talks with Scottsbluff Police Officer Michael Modeac as he puts up crime scene tape at the scene of an armed standoff in Scottsbluff in June 2021.
4. North Platte
With a population of 23,705 and 89 violent crimes, the city had a rate of 3.75 per 1,000.
Photo: Union Pacific train engines line up outside a service building in North Platte.
3. Lincoln
The Star City had a population of 291,128 with 1,115 violent crimes, a rate of 3.83 per 1,000.
Photo: Police in Lincoln investigate a shooting near the intersection of 14th and E streets in August 2019.
2. Grand Island
With a population of 51,821 and 236 violent crimes, the largest of the Tri Cities had a 2019 rate of 4.55 per 1,000 people.
Photo: Grand Island police and State Patrol personnel investigate after a body was found in a Grand Island yard in August 2020.
1. Omaha
In 2019, the state’s largest city at 470,481 people had 2,833 violent crimes for a rate of 6.13 per 1,000.
Photo: Omaha police and University Police guard the entrance to the Nebraska Medicine Emergency room after an Omaha police officer was shot at Westroads Mall in March 2021.
A note about the numbers
With eight violent crimes in 2019, Boys Town topped the state at 13.82 per 1,000 people, which is a misleading stat because it only had a 2019 population of 579.
Photo: The statue at the entrance to Boys Town. It doesn’t take much to skew the numbers.
Reach the writer at 402-473-7254 or [email protected]
On Twitter @LJSPeterSalter