Lincoln man sentenced for stealing guns, armed carjacking that followed

At Chance Thigpen's sentencing, Lancaster County District Judge Jodi Nelson said while Thigpen tried to blame substance abuse, it was his choices that created the dangerousness that flowed from that.

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A 26-year-old man was sentenced to 16 to 26 years in prison Wednesday in connection with a carjacking in north Lincoln. Chance Thigpen pleaded no contest to attempted robbery, burglary and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person for what happened Feb. 8.

At about 6:15 p.m. that day, the Lincoln Police Department was dispatched to a convenience store near North 33rd Street and Folkways Boulevard on a report of a robbery.



The 40-year-old victim told police that as he walked out of the store back to his Chevrolet Spark, a man approached him and pulled out a gold Smith & Wesson .380 handgun and demanded his car keys. Chance Thigpen The man, identified as Thigpen, then got into the car and drove away.

Police spotted the car soon after and tried to make a traffic stop, but Thigpen sped away, so the Nebraska State Patrol helicopter followed him from above. People are also reading..

. Law enforcement ultimately cornered him in a parking lot at North 27th Street and Cornhusker Highway. After a brief standoff, Thigpen was arrested.

Police found a stolen gun in the car. At his sentencing Wednesday, Lancaster County District Judge Jodi Nelson said while Thigpen tried to blame substance abuse, it was his choices that created the dangerousness that flowed from that. She also said he couldn't blame drugs for the write-ups he got in jail, where he got caught trying to make homemade alcohol and stealing from other people.

"For me, I have to look at what are the sentences that adequately protect the community from you," Nelson said, before announcing the sentence. Top Journal Star photos for October 2024 First grade student JaMaya Arnolds (center) leaps over Tinikeling sticks held by Ben (left) and Linda Witfoth while playing a rhythm game during the Music Studio LNK after school program held at McPhee Elementary School on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024.

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Bolton has been decorating her yard with skeletons since she bought her home in 2020. Reach the writer at 402-473-7237 or [email protected] .

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