Getaway driver in downtown Lincoln concert shooting learns fate

“The dangerousness to the community in this situation is just off the charts,” Lancaster County District Judge Matthew Mellor told Kashaun Lockett. “Gunshots after a concert. And you drove the individual away.”

There was just no regard for public safety, he said.

Lockett pleaded no contest to accessory to a first-degree assault for his actions after the shooting Sept. 5, following the Sexyy Red concert at Pinnacle Bank Arena that left one man with a gunshot wound.

Lincoln Police alleged at a preliminary hearing for his codefendant, Delshon Levering, that Lockett drove Levering away after Levering fired at least seven shots, hitting a man.

Officers helping direct concert traffic that night near Canopy and Q Streets heard several gunshots at about 11:15 p.m. and found a 19-year-old Omaha man, Latrell Knight, with a gunshot wound.

Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Jason Cooper said it almost cost Knight his life.

“His blood covered the Hyatt lobby and foyer, because, as it turns out, the bullet nicked his artery. Without immediate medical attention from bystanders and LPD and LFR (Lincoln Fire and Rescue), he could have easily bled out,” Cooper said.

He said one of the bullets went through a hotel room window, and more went into a nearby occupied Jeep.

The prosecutor said Lockett’s juvenile record includes other similar offenses in Douglas County, like felony assault and fleeing arrest. He’s also got a case pending in connection to a shooting there in May 2024.

Lockett’s attorney, George Dungan, said from the beginning, they spoke about how serious this was and Lockett takes responsibility for being involved in it and being around people involved in it.

“This is one of, if not the most, serious kind of cases that come before this court,” Dungan said. “He appreciates that severity and feels that as well.”

He called this a “wake-up call” for Lockett, who is at a fork in the road and has to decide whether he continues to make the bad decisions he’s made in the past or go down a different path.

Lockett stood up and said he took full responsibility and accountability and apologized to the victims and their families for the trauma they had to face.

He said he turned 20 while he has been incarcerated, he has learned to distance himself from negative people and has goals.

“This is not the place I want to live for the rest of my life,” Lockett said. “There are better things in life for me.”

In the end, the judge said he wasn’t convinced that Lockett is ready to make changes.

“There’s going to be consequences,” Mellor said.

And he gave Lockett three years in prison, the maximum he could on the charge, plus a year and a half post-release supervision.

Levering, the alleged shooter, is awaiting trial.