Man charged with murder, multiple other charges in rampage across Lincoln

Published: Feb. 19, 2025 at 1:43 PM CST|Updated: Feb. 19, 2025 at 5:34 PM CST
Email This Link
Share on Pinterest
Share on LinkedIn

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - A man accused of fatally shooting one man and then going on a rampage across Lincoln has been charged.

Timothy Washington, 41, was arraigned on Wednesday and charged by Lancaster County prosecutors with 10 counts, including first-degree murder and assault. The judge ordered that he be held without bond.

Washington is scheduled to be back in court on Wednesday, March 19 at 10 a.m.

The Lincoln Police Department provided a timeline on a series of crimes Washington allegedly committed after Philmoon Kuku, 34, was shot and killed near the State Capitol on Sunday.

LPD said it began at 11:50 a.m. when Washington and Kuku got into an argument.

41-year-old Timothy C. Washington
41-year-old Timothy C. Washington(10/11 NOW)

A preliminary investigation showed Kuku and another person had been walking on 13th Street between E and F streets when Washington drove up in an Chevy Impala and shot Kuku in the chest, police said. He then fled the scene.

Kuku was transported to the hospital where he later died from his injuries.

Court documents don’t describe the relationship between Kuku and Washington, but according to Washington’s arrest affidavit, a witness reported Kuku was seen speaking with someone in a Chevy Impala shortly before the shooting.

About 45 minutes later, officers responded to a hit-and-run with a Toyota Highlander at 27th and Y streets. Witnesses reported seeing the driver walking away from the scene.

A short time later, officers responded to a stabbing near 28th and Y streets. Officers located a 40-year-old man outside of an apartment building with stab wounds to his neck and chest.

The victim said Washington went to his apartment and accused him of owing him money. The victim believed Washington had mistaken him for someone else.

He was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

LPD said Washington then ran back to the white Highlander that he had previously hit with the Impala and forcibly stole the vehicle. During the theft, LPD said Washington let the victims take their infant child out of the vehicle.

In total, five people were in the vehicle — three of them children. A crash report shows Washington was not licensed during the incident.

About 10 minutes later, officers were called to the area of 48th Street and Madison Avenue on the report of a pedestrian being hit by a stolen vehicle. LPD said Washington hit the victim once and then attempted to hit them a second time while they retreated.

During the incident, LPD said Washington hit two other vehicles. Witnesses reported seeing Washington take out a knife and bang on windows to an apartment complex.

Police said Washington drove to the Casey’s at Leighton Avenue and North Cotner Boulevard and stole a Chevy Tahoe. He reportedly hit two vehicles while fleeing the Casey’s in the stolen vehicle.

Police said the pursuit came to an end at 1:10 p.m. when Washington crashed into a tree 9th and Benton streets. He ran away from the crash site but was quickly taken into custody.

The investigation is ongoing.

Prison records show Washington was paroled on Dec. 27 after being convicted of robbery in 2022. Washington had been accused in a robbery at a D’Leon’s along South 27th Street in 2021 and a robbery at a home in 2020.

He was sentenced to six to 11 years in prison but only served a little under two years behind bars.

ALSO WATCH: Night Beat with Danielle Shenk

Night Beat: Lincoln family reflects on devastating house fire, memorial for Trooper Kyle McAcy grows ahead of his funeral, and more top headlines

Click here to subscribe to our 10/11 NOW daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.