Credit: Kevin Cole – Omaha World Herald
A police officer was stabbed and his alleged assailant was shot by another officer during an incident early Tuesday in the Lincoln Bus Depot.
Injuries to the officer and the man who was shot were not life-threatening, a Lincoln police spokeswoman said. The incident occurred about 12:15 a.m. at the bus depot at 5250 Superior St. in northeast Lincoln.
Officers were called to the station because a 27-year-old Chicago man reportedly boarded a bus without money for a ticket. The man failed to comply with requests to exit the bus, the spokeswoman said, and began fighting with the officers in the back of the bus.
“The suspect then produced a knife, lunging at and stabbing one officer in the neck. He ignored multiple commands to drop the knife before reaching for that officer’s firearm,” the spokeswoman said in press release. “Another officer on board the bus then discharged their service weapon, striking the suspect once.”
There were approximately 20 people on the bus during the incident and no passengers were injured. Police have not released the names of anyone involved.
“I am grateful for our officers’ bravery and am proud of LPD’s swift and courageous response in a difficult situation that undoubtedly saved others from injury,” Lincoln Police Chief Michon Morrow. “I want to commend their resilience and compassion, exemplified in the way they’ve rallied around our injured officer.”
Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird also commended the responding officers for their quick actions.
“When one of our officers is injured in the line of duty, the impact is felt by our entire community,” she said. “We are reminded of the incredible risks our officers take every day as they put their lives on the line to protect us. I am grateful for the service and sacrifices made by our officers and their families, and on behalf of our entire community, I extend my thoughts and support to our injured team member and family during their recovery.”
When the Chicago man is released from the hospital he will be arrested on suspicion of first-degree assault on an officer and use of a weapon to commit a felony. The officer who fired his weapon has been put on paid administrative leave. which is standard procedure for an officer-involved shootin