A minor traffic collision in the early morning hours of December 23, 2022, in Lincoln, Nebraska, escalated into a fatal shooting. Kupo Mleya, 38, a Black man originally from Zimbabwe, was driving his Jeep Patriot near South 20th and Washington Streets when another car backing out of a driveway struck his vehicle. The other driver, 23-year-old Karsen Rezac, reportedly became agitated and the two men — strangers who lived near each other — fought. Rezac fired multiple shots into Mleya’s vehicle; police found Mleya inside his crashed Jeep with critical gunshot wounds. Emergency personnel performed CPR but Mleya was pronounced dead at the scene.

Less than 22 hours later Lincoln Police arrested Rezac near South 28th Street and Tierra Drive. He was charged with second-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony. Mleya is remembered by his community for an infectious laugh and smile and is survived by a 12-year-old daughter. Does anyone have information about Mleya’s last movements or witnesses to the collision and confrontation?