In the early morning hours of December 23, 2022, a dispute that began with a minor traffic incident in Lincoln, Nebraska, tragically escalated, ending the life of 38-year-old Kupo Mleya, a Black male originally from Zimbabwe. Mleya was driving his Jeep Patriot near South 20th and Washington Streets when a car backing out of a driveway collided with his vehicle. The driver of the other car, 23-year-old Karsen Rezac, reportedly became agitated after the fender bender.
The two men, who lived near each other but were strangers, were involved in an altercation that ended when Rezac fired multiple shots into Mleya's vehicle.
Police responded to a call about a disturbance at 12:21 a.m. and discovered Mleya inside his crashed vehicle, suffering from critical gunshot wounds. Despite the efforts of law enforcement and emergency medical personnel who performed CPR, Mleya succumbed to his injuries at the scene. Investigators found that Rezac had fired six shots, fatally wounding Mleya, in what was described as a moment of "freaking out" following the collision.
The investigation swiftly led to a suspect. Less than 22 hours after the shooting, on Christmas Eve, Lincoln Police located and arrested Karsen Rezac near South 28th Street and Tierra Drive. He was taken into custody without incident and was subsequently charged with second-degree murder and the use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony. The community, particularly the local African population, was deeply affected by the senseless violence that took the life of a man remembered for his infectious laugh and smile. Mleya, who was the son of a late Zimbabwean national hero, left behind a 12-year-old daughter.
In the ensuing legal proceedings, Karsen Rezac pleaded no contest to the charge of second-degree murder. As part of a plea agreement, the felony weapon charge was dismissed. On March 27, 2024, a Lancaster County District Judge sentenced Rezac to a term of 60 years to life in prison. Under Nebraska's "good time" law, he will be required to serve a minimum of 30 years. The sentencing was attended by a large crowd of nearly 100 people, including Mleya's family and friends, marking a somber conclusion to a case that began with a minor accident and ended in a devastating loss.
