Omaha, Nebraska: Denzel Gaines Pleads No Contest in Mi'Kaya Eggert Shooting Death, Sentencing Set for January 25

A man charged in a North Omaha shooting that killed a 21-year-old woman in May pleaded no contest on Monday to manslaughter and to use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony, KETV and WOWT reported. Denzel Gaines entered the plea in court on Monday afternoon, November 9, in the death of Mi'Kaya Eggert. His sentencing is set for January 25, 2027.

The plea ends the trial path in a case that began on a Sunday afternoon in May and has been in Douglas County court since that week. Gaines was booked into Douglas County Corrections in connection with the shooting, and a judge held him without bond after his first court appearance.

The May shooting in North Omaha

Omaha officers found Eggert near 28th and Franklin streets at about 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 24, WOWT reported at the time. She was taken to a hospital, where she died. Police opened a homicide investigation, and Gaines was booked into Douglas County Corrections for the shooting death of Eggert, WOWT reported.

Gaines made his first court appearance on Wednesday, May 27. A judge held him without bond, and his preliminary hearing was set for July 6, WOWT reported. In July, WOWT reported that the second degree murder charge against Gaines had been reduced to manslaughter, and that a judge denied bond at that appearance as well.

The charges behind the plea

When the case moved through court, Gaines faced charges that included second degree murder, use of a firearm to commit a felony, possession of a firearm and terroristic threats, WOWT reported on Monday. The plea he entered on Monday covers manslaughter and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony, KETV reported.

A no contest plea means the court can convict and sentence a defendant without the defendant admitting the facts in court. By entering it, Gaines gave up a trial on the plea counts, and the case moved straight to sentencing.

Sentencing on January 25

No sentence was imposed on Monday. KETV reported that Gaines took the plea deal in court on Monday afternoon, and WOWT reported that he will be sentenced on January 25, 2027.

For Eggert's family and for the North Omaha blocks around 28th and Franklin streets, the plea resolves the charges without a trial and leaves one date ahead. On January 25, a Douglas County judge will set the prison term on the manslaughter and weapon counts, and the case that started with a Sunday afternoon shooting in May will get its final court number.