John Armstrong

Jonathan William “John” Armstrong III, a 52-year-old White male, was a Lincoln, Nebraska, native, born in the city in 1971. An online memorial noted that he was lost to gun violence in the spring of 2024.

Just after noon on April 9, 2024, police were dispatched to an apartment in the 1100 block of G Street in Lincoln following a 911 call from a man who said he had shot someone. When officers arrived, they found John Armstrong inside the residence with a single gunshot wound to his head. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The man who called 911, 53-year-old Jacob Mulloy, lived in the apartment and was performing CPR on Armstrong when first responders arrived.

Investigators learned that Mulloy and Armstrong had known each other for several years. According to the police chief, the shooting stemmed from an argument over Armstrong having previously entered Mulloy’s home uninvited. On the day of the shooting, Armstrong had been allowed inside, but the two men got into a physical altercation. Mulloy told police that Armstrong pushed him and threatened to assault him, and he responded by shooting him. Authorities noted that Armstrong was not armed and stated that the gunfire was not a warranted act of self-defense.

Mulloy turned himself in to officers at the scene and was arrested. Police recovered a handgun from the apartment. He was initially booked on suspicion of second-degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a felony, but prosecutors later upgraded the charges to first-degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a felony. Mulloy pleaded not guilty in September 2024. In late 2025, as his case headed toward a bench trial, his defense planned to argue he was not responsible by reason of insanity, and the court ordered a competency evaluation.

Just before his trial was set to begin, Jacob Mulloy reached an agreement with the state. In February 2026, he entered a plea deal, pleading no contest to the reduced charges of manslaughter and attempted use of a firearm to commit a felony. A Lancaster County District Court judge then found him guilty on both counts.

In May 2026, Mulloy, then 55, was sentenced to consecutive prison terms. He received 19 years and 10 months for manslaughter and a sentence of 19 to 20 years for the firearm charge, for a total of 38 years and 10 months up to 40 years in prison. He was given credit for time already served.