Two Arrested and Charged in Shooting Death of Jay Hefner

LINCOLN, Neb.—The Lincoln Police Department (LPD) last week announced the arrest of two men accused of carrying out the September killing of adult star and AVN Award winner Jay Hefner, 24. According to an LPD statement published on October 16, Kavion Wright, 23, shot and killed Hefner while Gregory Bahati, 30, encouraged the shooting. Both men were arraigned last Thursday before the Lancaster County Court. Wright faces felony charges of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree assault, and the use of a firearm to commit a felony. Bahati is charged with felony counts of aiding and abetting the crimes carried out by Wright. A judge denied Wright and Bahati bond. LPD also released more details of the shooting, which took place in the early morning of September 8, 2024. At 1:00 a.m. that day, Lincoln Police officers responded to fights outside a bar located near the intersection of 11th and O streets. The responding officers found two men with gunshot wounds.  There is no indication of Hefner, Wright or Bahati being involved in those fights. But they were nearby, the police said. Reportedly, Bahati egged Wright on by pointing and shouting, "shoot him," while pointing directly at Hefner. The police allege that Wright fired two shots, hitting Hefner and another Lincoln man, 40, before he and Bahati fled in a black Honda Pilot. The unnamed Lincoln man survived but Hefner passed away hours later at a local hospital. “I don’t know if the incident was gang-related or motivated but certainly the individuals at least responsible for it have connections to gangs up in Omaha,” explained LPD assistant chief Jason Stille via local news outlet KOLN. Stille said that they're still investigating whether the suspects were connected to the victims, including Hefner. The police also said they obtained security camera videos showing Wright leaving his home in Omaha and returning in the same Honda Pilot. Law enforcement agencies involved in executing search warrants and making the arrests related to Hefner's death include the LPD, Omaha Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service fugitive task force, and the Douglas County, Neb., Sheriff's Office, KOLN reports. LPD also said the investigation is still ongoing and claims there are no other suspects at large at this point. Individuals with information related to the death of Hefner are urged to call the LPD's non-emergency number at (402) 441-6000 or the local Crime Stoppers chapter at (402) 475-3600 if they wish to remain anonymous. Hefner is survived by his girlfriend, a 10-month-old child, a terminally ill mother, and siblings. A GoFundMe fundraiser for Hefner's family has raised over $28,000 to help pay for funeral expenses.