A 23-year-old Lincoln man is facing a felony assault charge after police say he stabbed a 54-year-old man in the neck following an argument outside a D'Leon's drive-thru in central Lincoln in September. Calvin Riggins was taken into custody on October 9 and arraigned Wednesday on a charge of second-degree assault, with a red folding utility knife recovered from his pocket at the time of his arrest.
According to KOLN, Lincoln police officers responded to the D'Leon's parking lot near South 27th and Randolph streets at 2:52 a.m. on September 20 to find the victim with a severe cut to his neck and upper chest. The 54-year-old man told officers he had been stabbed with a utility knife by someone he did not know, according to court documents, and he was able to give police a description of the suspect before Lincoln Fire and Rescue transported him to a local hospital. The D'Leon's at 824 South 27th Street is one of several 24-hour drive-thru Mexican eateries the chain has operated across the city since its first location opened on West O Street in 2003, according to D'Leon's Mexican Restaurant.
Surveillance Footage and a License Plate Cracked the Case
Investigators reviewed surveillance video of the stabbing and obtained the license plate of the vehicle the suspect reportedly fled in, the station's report notes. Police believe Riggins had been arguing with the victim before the stabbing, with the dispute likely stemming from the victim's previous interactions with other vehicles in the drive-thru. Per the same account, Riggins allegedly got out of his vehicle, took out a pocket knife, and stabbed the victim as the man backed away before Riggins left the scene.
The victim's wound required staples to close a 5-inch cut to his chest, and the injury nearly reached his trachea and vocal cords, according to police. Riggins was interviewed at the police station and recounted his version of events before his October 9 arrest, when officers reportedly found the red folding utility knife in his pant pocket that investigators believe was used during the altercation.
What Riggins Faces in Court
Under Nebraska Revised Statute § 28-309, second-degree assault involving a dangerous instrument is classified as a Class IIA felony, carrying a statutory penalty of up to 20 years in prison, according to the Nebraska Legislature. Riggins was released from custody after posting $4,000 bail, court records show. Under standard Nebraska bail procedures, judges allow defendants to secure release by posting a 10% cash deposit unless a full cash-only bond is explicitly ordered, per guidance from the Nebraska Court of Appeals.
Felony assault cases like this one typically begin with an arraignment in Lancaster County Court before being bound over to Lancaster County District Court following a preliminary hearing or indictment, according to the Liberty Law Group. Riggins is scheduled for his next court appearance on November 18.
Part of a Rising Trend in Violent Crime
The stabbing comes amid a broader rise in violent crime across Lincoln. The Lincoln Police Department's 2025 annual report, released in March, found that aggravated assaults rose 27% in 2025 compared to 2024, driving an overall 32% increase in violent crime even as total crime hit a 20-year low, according to Nebraska Public Media. Property crimes and vehicle thefts fell sharply over the same period, even as assaults climbed.
The department, now led by Chief Michon Morrow, organizes its field operations across four community team divisions covering the Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, and Southeast parts of Lincoln, according to the Lincoln Police Department. A public safety review released by the City of Lincoln in April 2025 found that local law enforcement achieved a 53.8% clearance rate for violent crimes including aggravated assault, a nearly 21% jump in solved cases over the prior year.
This is not the only recent late-night assault case to land in Lincoln courts. Earlier this month, Hoodline reported that police arrested another 21-year-old Lincoln resident on second-degree assault and felony weapon charges following an early-morning physical dispute in East Lincoln. Lincoln Fire and Rescue, the city's primary emergency medical provider, routinely transports severe trauma victims to regional centers such as Bryan Health and CHI Health St. Elizabeth, according to the UNL Police Department.
