A man accused of stabbing a Lincoln police officer at the bus depot is taking a plea deal

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Chicago man accused of stabbing a Lincoln police officer in the neck during a chaotic confrontation at a bus depot last October has taken a plea deal.

Simon Kafka, 28, was found guilty of second-degree assault on an officer and using a deadly weapon to commit a felony, according to court documents filed Tuesday. He faces up to 50 years in prison for each charge.

As part of a plea deal, a judge dismissed two other charges: attempted second-degree murder and resisting arrest with a deadly weapon.

Kafka will be sentenced at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 20 in Lancaster County District Court

On October 17, 2023, officers were called to the Lincoln Bus Depot at 52nd and Superior Streets after Kafka had no money to purchase a ticket and refused to get off the bus.

Lincoln police said the Kafka failed to follow officers' orders, leading to a fight in the back of the bus. He eventually pulled out a knife and stabbed Officer Kirby Urbanek in the neck, police said.

Despite continued commands from officers, police say the man attempted to reach for an officer's firearm, prompting Officer Kate Schwenke to fire a single shot. Kafka was taken to the hospital and then booked into the Lancaster County Jail.

Officer Urbanek joined the Lincoln Police Department in June 2022 and has five years of law enforcement experience. Officer Schwenke had been with the department for eight years at the time of the attack.

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