In the heart of Lincoln, Nebraska, a Sunday afternoon turned tragic, leaving a family and community to mourn the loss of Philmoon Kuku, a 34-year-old Black / African American man. Born in Sudan, Africa, on August 28, 1990, Kuku was a son, father, and brother who was known for his authenticity and his deep love for his family. He was a diligent worker and a former high school soccer competitor, remembered as a brave and persistent father to his three children.
On February 16, 2025, what
began as an ordinary day for Kuku ended in a fatal encounter. Just before noon, while walking with another person near 13th and E Streets, an argument erupted with a man who drove up in a Chevy Impala. The driver, identified as 41-year-old Timothy Washington, shot Kuku in the chest and fled the scene. Kuku was rushed to a nearby hospital, but tragically, he succumbed to his injuries.
The violence did not end with Kuku's death. Washington proceeded to lead police on an approximately 80-minute crime spree across the city of Lincoln. Following the shooting, he was involved in a hit-and-run accident. He then stabbed a 40-year-old man in a case of mistaken identity; the victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Washington's rampage continued as he stole the vehicle from the earlier hit-and-run, after allowing the occupants to remove their infant. He then struck a pedestrian and several other vehicles before crashing the stolen car and fleeing on foot.
The Lincoln Police Department, with assistance from other agencies, engaged in a citywide effort to apprehend the suspect. After crashing a second stolen vehicle, Washington was quickly taken into custody. Timothy Washington was arrested for first-degree murder in the death of Philmoon Kuku and for use of a firearm to commit a felony. Further charges related to the extensive crime spree were anticipated as the investigation continued.
