Man who stabbed Lincoln officer in the neck on bus pleads guilty to reduced charges

LINCOLN — A Chicago man who stabbed a Lincoln police officer in the neck on a crowded bus at a stop in Lincoln just over a year ago pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree assault on an officer and use of a deadly weapon.

Prosecutors, in exchange, dropped the attempted murder and resisting arrest charges Simon Kafka had been facing for the incident Oct. 17, 2023, which ended with the officer wounded and Kafka shot.

"I plead guilty," the 28-year-old said.

Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Jeff Mathers said that at around 12:15 that morning, dispatch sent Lincoln police officers to the Lincoln Bus Depot at North 52nd and Superior Streets for reports of a man who had boarded a bus to Denver without a ticket and refused to get off.

Officer Kirby Urbanek and Officer Kate Schwenke walked to the back of the crowded bus, where Kafka had been sitting, and Urbanek asked to see his ticket.

"After a short delay, the defendant came out of his seat and attacked Urbanek in what he described initially as a punch to the throat," Mathers said.

He said the officer then saw a locked-blade pocket knife in the man's hand.

Mathers said Kafka had stabbed Urbanek in the left front throat area, causing a puncture wound to his neck and throat.

He said Kafka continued to fight with Urbanek as the officer tried to wrestle the knife away from him.

"During the struggle, Urbanek can feel the defendant attempting to grab his holstered sidearm," Mathers said.

He said Kafka continued to fight despite commands to stop fighting and drop the knife.

Ultimately, Urbanek called out "gun grab," to let Officer Schwenke, who was on the bus behind him, know.

Urbanek threw a punch to distract Kafka, and Schwenke fired a single shot that struck Kafka, causing him to go limp for a moment and allowing Urbanek to be able to get the knife and throw it away.

At a hearing in the case earlier this year, Urbanek said that during the scuffle, he was telling Kafka to let go of the knife or he was going to get shot, and Kafka told him to "do it" and asked what he was waiting for.

He said he took it to mean Kafka was looking for "suicide by cop."

Kafka, who has been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, had been nearing trial for attempted murder and three other felonies when he went to court Tuesday and entered the guilty pleas.

He will face up to 100 years in prison at his sentencing next month.