On a Monday afternoon in Lincoln, Nebraska, on March 26, 2018, the life of Edgar Union Jr., a 22-year-old Black / African American male, was cut short by gunfire. The incident, which unfolded around 2:00 p.m. near South 47th Street and Cooper Avenue, was preceded by a large fight that broke out in the street. Neighbors reported the commotion, and when police arrived, they found Union on a porch with a gunshot wound. He succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
At the time of his death, Edgar Union Jr. was a father to five children.
The investigation into the shooting revealed a dispute that had started earlier in the day at a local high school, leading to the suspension of several students. The conflict escalated and continued through electronic communication between two groups, culminating in a violent confrontation. According to law enforcement, the individuals involved were familiar with each other, and there were mentions of possible gang affiliations. The scene was chaotic, with initial reports to dispatch describing about 15 people fighting, someone being hit by a vehicle, and shots being fired.
Nearly a month after the fatal shooting, an arrest was made. On April 23, 2018, police took 16-year-old Natavian Q. Morton into custody in Mississippi without incident. Morton, a sophomore at Lincoln Northeast High School at the time, was charged with second-degree murder and other offenses in connection with Edgar Union Jr.'s death. Court documents later revealed that Morton admitted to firing the shot that killed Union. He informed investigators that he had been picked up from his high school and driven to the scene of the shooting. Upon arrival, another individual handed him a gun, which he placed in his jacket pocket before the fatal altercation ensued.
