The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office and Lincoln Police Department continues to investigate an officer-involved shooting that happened in northeast Lincoln Wednesday morning. The Nebraska State Patrol says members of the Metro Area Fugitive Task Force were looking for 41-year-old John Massa of Lincoln.
Massa was wanted in connection with a felony narcotics and firearm possession case and officers believed Massa was armed and dangerous. “Task Force members determined that Massa was believed to be at a hotel near 56th Street and Cornhusker Highway,” says NSP spokesman Cody Thomas.
“Shortly before 8:45 a.m., Massa left the hotel and entered the backseat of a vehicle, which was driven by another person.” Thomas says Task Force members, including a Nebraska State Trooper and United States Deputy Marshal stopped the vehicle as it was attempting to turn westbound on Cornhusker.
“The driver was determined to be a rideshare driver and not associated with Massa” Thomas says the driver was able to get out of the vehicle after seeing Massa in possession of a handgun. Thomas says the trooper and deputy marshal gave verbal commands to Massa, but he refused to comply.
“The preliminary investigation reveals the trooper saw the handgun and that both the trooper and the deputy marshal fired, striking the suspect.” The handgun was later located inside the vehicle. Massa was transported to Bryan Health West Campus, where he is currently being treated for life-threatening injuries.
Thomas says the trooper, deputy marshal and rideshare driver were not injured during the incident. An NSP Police Service Dog in the trooper’s vehicle was also not injured. NSP has requested that the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office and Lincoln Police Department conduct the investigation, with assistance from the Lancaster County Attorney’s Office. That investigation is ongoing.
Photos: KLIN’s Chris Lofgreen