Opinion ID: 2234373
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 19

Heading: Attempted Killing of Kearney

Text: According to Matheny, the sequence of events that led to the attempted murder of Kearney and Sellers' arrest began when, at Sellers' direction, Matheny introduced herself to Kearney, flirted with him, and exchanged telephone numbers with him. According to Matheny, Sellers wanted to rob Kearney because he was a drug dealer and had money. The following evening, Sellers and Matheny retrieved a handgun from Thorpe and drove to an apartment complex. Matheny arranged to have Kearney meet her there. Matheny testified that when Kearney pulled into the apartment complex, Sellers exited Matheny's car and hid behind a tree. Kearney parked next to Matheny's car. Matheny got into Kearney's car and talked with him briefly. They exited Kearney's car, and as they started walking toward the apartment building, Sellers approached Kearney and put the gun to his head. Kearney and Sellers started fighting, and Kearney wrested the gun away from Sellers. The gun fired twice during the struggle. At some point in the fight, Sellers asked for Matheny's help, so Matheny dug her fingernails into Kearney's eyes. Matheny and Kearney testified that Sellers had a knife and stabbed Kearney repeatedly, until Kearney stopped moving. Kearney testified that eventually, he played ... dead. Lying face down, Kearney could hear and feel Matheny and Sellers going through his pockets and removing his rings. At that time, someone yelled about the cops, so Matheny and Sellers ran to Matheny's vehicle and drove out of the parking lot. Sellers' account of that night is different from that of Matheny and Kearney. Sellers testified that he and Matheny went to the apartment complex to meet Kearney to buy some marijuana. Sellers testified that after he asked Kearney for some marijuana, it got crazy. According to Sellers, Kearney pulled out a gun and fired it. Sellers testified that he ran from Kearney but doubled back because he did not want to leave Matheny alone with Kearney. A fight ensued. Sellers grabbed his pocketknife and started swinging wildly. Sellers and Kearney fell to the ground, and Kearney rolled on top of Sellers. Sellers testified that Matheny pulled Kearney off and that Sellers and Matheny then ran to the car. When Kearney was found by police, he was screaming, They tried to kill me. They tried to kill me. Kearney was transported to the hospital by ambulance. A gun was found at the scene within arm's length of Kearney. The Omaha Police Department crime laboratory determined that the bullets that killed Pierce and Ford had been fired from that gun. A short time after Matheny and Sellers fled the scene, Omaha police stopped Matheny's car and arrested Matheny and Sellers. Matheny's coat appeared to have blood on it, and Sellers also had bloodstains on his clothing. Sellers had a knife in his pocket with what appeared to be blood on it, a small amount of marijuana, and $217 in cash.