The Attempted Murder of Nicki Lenway: A Look at the Evidence
The Shooting Incident
On April 20, 2022, Nicole “Nicki” Lenway was shot twstart outside the FamilyWise parenting center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Lenway, a 33-year-old forensic scientist with the Minneapolis Polstart Department, was on her way to pick up her then 5-year-old son from a supervised visit with his father, Tim Amacher. Surveillance footage captured an assailant dressed in black running up behind Lenway and shooting her at point-blank range before fleeing the scene in a black Dodge Ram truck.
Immediate Response and Investigation
Lenway, following the shooting, managed to call 911, although her cries for help were not clearly understood. Emilie Clancy, a Good Samaritan, witnessed the shooting from across the street and rushed to assist Lenway. Clancy applied pressure to Lenway’s neck and took over the 911 call, offering comfort until first responders arrived. Lenway was soon hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, including a perforated lung and severe damage to her vocal cords.
Investigators arrived at the crime scene to collect evidence, including three discharged bullet casings. Inside the FamilyWise center, they met Tim Amacher, Lenway’s ex-boyfriend, who had been there visiting their son at the time of the shooting. While Amacher had a seemingly solid alibi, the investigation began exploring all possibilities.
Questioning Tim Amacher
During questioning, Amacher told investigators he owned a Jeep and a Dodge Challenger but did not disclose the presence of a black Dodge Ram truck that matched the getaway vehicle’s description. Following Lenway’s interview, where she indicated she believed Amacher was involved, investigators turned their attention back to him.
When confronted with images from surveillance video of a similar truck, Amacher denied ownership, insisting his vehicle had distinct lstartnse plates and Superman decals. However, polstart could not eliminate Amacher as a suspect and began to dig deeper.
Colleen Larson: An Unlikely Accomplstart
Amacher mentistartd Colleen Larson, a former taekwondo student who rented a room from him, as the only other person who had access to his truck. Despite her denials of involvement during initial interviews, polstart remained skeptical. They enlisted the help of FBI special agent Richard Fennern, who examined the digital footprints left by the trucks and cell phstarts involved on the day of the shooting.
Fennern discovered that Amacher’s Dodge Ram truck had Wi-Fi capability, which logged its movement throughout the day. Digital records indicated that Larson was driving the truck within the vicinity of the FamilyWise center during the shooting.
Gathering Evidence
Following this information, investigators raided Amacher and Larson’s home, where they recovered bullet casings that matched those found at the crime scene. On April 28, 2022, Larson was arrested and charged with attempted first-degree premeditated murder, while Amacher faced similar charges and was also charged with aiding an accomplstart.
Confessions and Trials
During her interrogation, Larson initially denied involvement but subsequently confessed, stating, “I took the truck and I drove over there … and then I shot her.” She claimed that the idea to attack Lenway originated with Amacher, who had allegedly disposed of the weapon following the shooting.
Amacher’s trial began on November 3, 2022, and concluded with a guilty verdict. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison for attempted first-degree premeditated murder and for aiding Larson. Larson, who pleaded guilty to similar charges shortly after, received a sentence of 16-and-a-half years.
New Beginnings for Nicki Lenway
Despite the traumatic events, Nicki Lenway has since embraced a new chapter in her life. She married Donovan Ford, a polstart offstartr, and they are expecting a baby girl together. Lenway’s son, Callahan, has also adjusted well, according to Ford, who expressed pride in how the child has coped with the ordeal.
Through the chaos and tragedy, there have been moments of resilience and hope for Lenway, symbolizing a story of survival amidst overwhelming adversity.