LPD Arrests Two Men In City’s Latest Homicide On Thursday
Joel Jones, Jr. (Courtesy of Lincoln Police)
Jarell Wheeler (Courtesy of Lincoln Police)

LINCOLN–(KFOR July 24)—Lincoln Police have arrested two men in connection to the shooting death of a woman riding on a StarTran bus Thursday afternoon near 23rd and “A” Streets.

According to Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister, 27-year-old Joel Jones, Jr. was arrested a few hours after the shooting for second-degree murder, use of a weapon to commit a felony, discharge of a fire arm into a vehicle and possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibitive person.  Jones was the passenger of a car heading westbound on “A” Street, when the shot was fired.  LPD also arrested 19-year-old Jarell Wheeler, the driver, as an accessory.

Bliemeister said based on security video and witness reports, the bus was heading eastbound on “A” Street when a bullet went through the driver’s side of the bus, striking a passenger that was seated.  He says LFR rushed 69-year-old Sharon Johnson to a Lincoln hospital, where she later died.  Through video evidence, Bliemeister said the shot came from the car heading westbound.  That vehicle was later found in the parking lot of a Kwik Shop at 14th and Adams.

The investigation is ongoing, according to Chief Bliemeister, and anyone with more information on this case should call police at 402-441-6000 or Crime Stoppers at 402-475-3600.