Lincoln Police Investigate In-Custody Death | 2025

Lincoln Police Investigate In-Custody Death | 2025

Published on November 10, 2025

UPDATE (November 12, 2025, 9:30 a.m.) | The Lincoln Police Department (LPD) is investigating after a man took his own life while in police custody. It is standard practice for LPD to investigate incidents of this nature.

On Sunday, November 9, around 8 p.m., officers responded to a disturbance at a home in the area of S. 54th and Meredeth streets in southeast Lincoln. 45-year-old Eleazar Oceguera of Lincoln was reported to be having a mental health crisis.

When officers arrived, he was attempting to enter a home through a basement window. Oceguera was handcuffed and placed into custody. He was searched by officers before being seated in the back of a police cruiser.

While the officers were interviewing witnesses, including a woman known to Oceguera, and evaluating the need to place him into Emergency Protective Custody, he used a firearm in his possession to shoot himself around 8:45 p.m. He was able to move his hands that were handcuffed behind him to the front of his body where he pulled the firearm from inside his pants. The shooting occurred in the area of 53rd and Lowell.

Despite immediate lifesaving efforts by officers and Lincoln Fire & Rescue at the scene, and medical professionals at the hospital, the man passed away around 9:30 p.m. Sunday.

No officers were injured during this call for service. The officer whose cruiser in which this occurred has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, as required by LPD General Orders.

General Order 1540 addresses Search of Persons and Vehicles. It is not public facing due to containing investigatory processes that, with public knowledge, could impede our effectiveness and potentially jeopardize officer safety. Here are a few elements of that policy:

• Per policy, officers may search people in multiple circumstances, including when someone is in custody.
• The scope of that search includes the subject and their possessions, including a frisk and examination of pockets, baggage or other items in their possession.
• The officers followed policy by handcuffing and searching Oceguera but missed the gun.

General Order 1550 discusses the use of handcuffs/ The officers followed policy by placing him in handcuffs, behind the back, palms out and double locked.

LPD will not be releasing video of an incident where a man took his own life. Our thoughts are with the Oceguera family during this horrific tragedy.

"It would be disrespectful to his loved ones to publicize the last moments of his life. He was a son, a father and a partner who was clearly suffering. It was traumatizing for those on scene and would be for anyone who would watch it," said Lincoln Police Michon Morrow. "LPD officers treated Oceguera with kindness and patience as they tried to help him by placing him in Emergency Protective Custody with the goal of connecting him to needed resources."

LPD wants to remind the public about various mental health resources available in the community, including the 988 Crisis Lifeline that's available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

View images from body camera and cruiser cameras here: https://http://bit.ly/3XmDIeW

***

The Lincoln Police Department (LPD) is investigating after a man took his own life while in police custody.

On Sunday, November 9, around 7:58 p.m., officers responded to a disturbance at a home in the area of S. 54^th and Meredeth streets in southeast Lincoln. A man in his 40s was reported to be having a mental health crisis by the reporting party. When officers arrived, the man was attempting to make entry into the home through a basement window.

The man was placed into custody and searched by officers before he was seated in the back of a police cruiser. While the officers were interviewing witnesses and evaluating the need to place the man into Emergency Protective Custody, he used a firearm in his possession to shoot himself around 8:45 p.m. He was able to move his hands to the front of his body where he pulled the firearm from inside his pants. Despite immediate lifesaving efforts by officers and Lincoln Fire and Rescue at the scene, and medical professionals at the hospital, the man passed away around 9:30 p.m.

The identity of the man is not being released at this time pending family notification. Our thoughts are with his loved ones during this difficult time.

No officers were injured during this call for service. The officer whose cruiser in which this occurred has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, as required by LPD General Orders. The incident was captured on body worn and cruiser cameras.

Additional information will be shared when available.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call our non-emergency number at 402-441-6000. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 402-475-3600, report online at lincolncrimestoppers.com or download the free P3 app.