Aug 27, 2020

2 arrested in Lincoln officer's shooting to be charged with escape

Posted Aug 27, 2020 3:58 PM
Orion Ross
Orion Ross

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Two people arrested in the shooting of a Lincoln police officer will be charged Thursday with escape, but face additional charges pending an investigation into the shooting, a Nebraska county prosecutor said Thursday.

Felipe Vazquez, 17, and Orion Ross, 19, both of Lincoln, were expected to be in court Thursday afternoon on the escape charges, Lancaster County Attorney Pat Condon said in a news release.

The Lincoln officer was shot Wednesday morning as he sought to serve an arrest warrant on Vazquez in connection with the March stabbing death of 36-year-old Edward Varejcka. Authorities said they have tied at least three people to Varejcka's death.

Police said Vazquez and Ross fled from the house where the officer was serving the warrant and was shot, but the two were caught a short time later.

Authorities had not released the name of the officer who was shot by Thursday morning, but said he is a 23-year veteran. He was in critical condition and underwent surgery Wednesday afternoon.