NU soccer standout shot, killed
An argument over shot glasses stolen from a party led to the Sunday shooting death of a University of Nebraska-Lincoln soccer star, police said.
Jenna Cooper, a 21-year-old junior from Louisville, Ky., died Sunday evening at BryanLGH Medical Center West. She was shot in the neck early Sunday outside her Lincoln home, 2540 S. 35th St.
The bullet that struck Cooper apparently was aimed at Nolan Jenkins, a friend of Cooper and one of about two dozen guests at the southeast Lincoln barbecue.
Jenkins, 22, a UNL senior from Sidney, was standing a few feet from Cooper when another party guest allegedly pulled out a .32-caliber handgun and fired at Jenkins from close range, Police Chief Tom Casady said.
Police said the bullet passed through Jenkins' scalp before exiting and striking Cooper in the throat. Investigators believe only one shot was fired.
Lucky Iromuanya, 22, 1925 N. 29th St., was arrested on suspicion of first-degree assault, use of a weapon to commit a felony and carrying a concealed weapon. Lancaster County Attorney Gary Lacey will review police reports on Cooper's death this morning and decide this week whether to file additional charges.
"Nolan and one other man and Lucky were exchanging some harsh words," Casady said. "Lucky brandished this handgun, shot Nolan and, in the process, shot her."
Jenkins was in fair condition Sunday at BryanLGH West.
Police found the suspected shooter near or at his home.
A woman at that address identified herself as Iromuanya's mother but declined to comment Sunday about the shooting or her son.
Cooper's death is being treated as Lincoln's first homicide of the year.
A defender who was switched to forward this spring, Cooper had an outstanding junior season in 2003. She led the Huskers with 14 assists and earned All-Big 12 first-team honors for the first time in her career.
On Friday night, as the Huskers completed their spring practice season, Cooper had the key assist in Nebraska's 1-1 tie with the Canadian under-19 national team at Abbott Sports Complex.
In a statement released by UNL, Nebraska head soccer coach John Walker said:
"Jenna was a great, great person, teammate and player. It was an absolute pleasure to have her on the team and to know her as a friend and teammate. She had an unbelievable work ethic. She was kind and generous, well respected by her teammates.
"She was a selfless person who always wanted the best for the team. She so desperately wanted to be a great captain and took her leadership role seriously. Everyone who had the opportunity to meet her, loved her. She was a wonderful, wonderful person. Any parent would be proud to have a daughter like her."
James Griesen, UNL vice chancellor for student affairs, said he called Cooper's instructors Sunday night so they would be able to help students today.
"They are all anxious to be helpful in any way they can," he said.
The grieving process can be hard for university students, Griesen said. The university provides grief counselors for students through the University Health Center.
On Sunday afternoon, four cars were parked in the driveway in front of Cooper's house, but the home's curtains were drawn shut and nobody answered when a Journal Star reporter knocked on the door.
Roughly 20 to 30 people attended the Saturday night party to celebrate the end of the spring soccer season, police said, citing witness statements. It appeared Iromuanya was the guest of someone else at the party, as police found no link between him and Cooper or Jenkins.
Neighbor Jean Dier said several parties had taken place at the house since it became a rental property a year and a half ago, but Dier said she had nearly gotten used to the noise. Police said they had no record of noise complaints.
Kim Humm, who lives across the street south of Cooper's house, said she awoke at 1:35 a.m. to get her 14-month-old daughter a bottle. She said she heard voices outside, looked through a window but saw nothing, so she went back to bed.
Humm, who has lived there for two years, said she had no problems with the college-age women who lived across the street. They even helped push her car out of the snow this winter.
"They've been good neighbors," she said. "They've had a few parties, but they're college girls. Nothing major."
Humm said she was alarmed that a shooting took place so close to where she lives with her fiance and five of their children.The neighborhood is usually calm, Humm said.
Humm's fiance, Gary Ackerman, said he saw two partygoers, a man and a woman, return to the house Sunday afternoon to get their car.
They told Ackerman that the argument that caused the shooting was over a seemingly minor issue.
"I guess it was over a shot glass the shooter was trying to take from the party," Ackerman said.
Casady, who said such shootings are becoming more common as guns replace fists in youthful fights, called the shooting a "terrible, terrible tragedy."
Someone had stolen shot glasses from Cooper's house, according to police reports, and Iromuanya became angry after being questioned.
Iromuanya has had no significant history with Lincoln police. He has had some traffic run-ins, records show, but nothing of a violent nature.
Several witnesses heard the shot or saw the argument, Casady said. The volatile mix of guns, parties and early morning hours made for great risk to innocent bystanders.
Cooper, he said, was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
She is survived by her parents, William and Ellen Cooper, and her older brother, Billy.
Services are pending. The family asked that memorials in Cooper's honor be donated to the UNL soccer program.
Reach Chris Aponick at 473-7120 or caponick@;journalstar.com or Aaron Sanderford at 473-7225 or at asanderford@;journalstar.com. Staff writer Andrew Nelson contributed to this story.
Jenna Cooper, a 21-year-old junior from Louisville, Ky., died Sunday evening at BryanLGH Medical Center West. She was shot in the neck early Sunday outside her Lincoln home, 2540 S. 35th St.
The bullet that struck Cooper apparently was aimed at Nolan Jenkins, a friend of Cooper and one of about two dozen guests at the southeast Lincoln barbecue.
Jenkins, 22, a UNL senior from Sidney, was standing a few feet from Cooper when another party guest allegedly pulled out a .32-caliber handgun and fired at Jenkins from close range, Police Chief Tom Casady said.
Police said the bullet passed through Jenkins' scalp before exiting and striking Cooper in the throat. Investigators believe only one shot was fired.
Lucky Iromuanya, 22, 1925 N. 29th St., was arrested on suspicion of first-degree assault, use of a weapon to commit a felony and carrying a concealed weapon. Lancaster County Attorney Gary Lacey will review police reports on Cooper's death this morning and decide this week whether to file additional charges.
"Nolan and one other man and Lucky were exchanging some harsh words," Casady said. "Lucky brandished this handgun, shot Nolan and, in the process, shot her."
Jenkins was in fair condition Sunday at BryanLGH West.
Police found the suspected shooter near or at his home.
A woman at that address identified herself as Iromuanya's mother but declined to comment Sunday about the shooting or her son.
Cooper's death is being treated as Lincoln's first homicide of the year.
A defender who was switched to forward this spring, Cooper had an outstanding junior season in 2003. She led the Huskers with 14 assists and earned All-Big 12 first-team honors for the first time in her career.
On Friday night, as the Huskers completed their spring practice season, Cooper had the key assist in Nebraska's 1-1 tie with the Canadian under-19 national team at Abbott Sports Complex.
In a statement released by UNL, Nebraska head soccer coach John Walker said:
"Jenna was a great, great person, teammate and player. It was an absolute pleasure to have her on the team and to know her as a friend and teammate. She had an unbelievable work ethic. She was kind and generous, well respected by her teammates.
"She was a selfless person who always wanted the best for the team. She so desperately wanted to be a great captain and took her leadership role seriously. Everyone who had the opportunity to meet her, loved her. She was a wonderful, wonderful person. Any parent would be proud to have a daughter like her."
James Griesen, UNL vice chancellor for student affairs, said he called Cooper's instructors Sunday night so they would be able to help students today.
"They are all anxious to be helpful in any way they can," he said.
The grieving process can be hard for university students, Griesen said. The university provides grief counselors for students through the University Health Center.
On Sunday afternoon, four cars were parked in the driveway in front of Cooper's house, but the home's curtains were drawn shut and nobody answered when a Journal Star reporter knocked on the door.
Roughly 20 to 30 people attended the Saturday night party to celebrate the end of the spring soccer season, police said, citing witness statements. It appeared Iromuanya was the guest of someone else at the party, as police found no link between him and Cooper or Jenkins.
Neighbor Jean Dier said several parties had taken place at the house since it became a rental property a year and a half ago, but Dier said she had nearly gotten used to the noise. Police said they had no record of noise complaints.
Kim Humm, who lives across the street south of Cooper's house, said she awoke at 1:35 a.m. to get her 14-month-old daughter a bottle. She said she heard voices outside, looked through a window but saw nothing, so she went back to bed.
Humm, who has lived there for two years, said she had no problems with the college-age women who lived across the street. They even helped push her car out of the snow this winter.
"They've been good neighbors," she said. "They've had a few parties, but they're college girls. Nothing major."
Humm said she was alarmed that a shooting took place so close to where she lives with her fiance and five of their children.The neighborhood is usually calm, Humm said.
Humm's fiance, Gary Ackerman, said he saw two partygoers, a man and a woman, return to the house Sunday afternoon to get their car.
They told Ackerman that the argument that caused the shooting was over a seemingly minor issue.
"I guess it was over a shot glass the shooter was trying to take from the party," Ackerman said.
Casady, who said such shootings are becoming more common as guns replace fists in youthful fights, called the shooting a "terrible, terrible tragedy."
Someone had stolen shot glasses from Cooper's house, according to police reports, and Iromuanya became angry after being questioned.
Iromuanya has had no significant history with Lincoln police. He has had some traffic run-ins, records show, but nothing of a violent nature.
Several witnesses heard the shot or saw the argument, Casady said. The volatile mix of guns, parties and early morning hours made for great risk to innocent bystanders.
Cooper, he said, was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
She is survived by her parents, William and Ellen Cooper, and her older brother, Billy.
Services are pending. The family asked that memorials in Cooper's honor be donated to the UNL soccer program.
Reach Chris Aponick at 473-7120 or caponick@;journalstar.com or Aaron Sanderford at 473-7225 or at asanderford@;journalstar.com. Staff writer Andrew Nelson contributed to this story.
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