Shooting in Omaha leaves three police officers injured and one suspect dead after confrontation at a gas station
An armed man, linked to a previous attack on a 61-year-old man, died during a shootout with police officers in Omaha
Three police officers in Omaha, Nebraska, were injured Wednesday in a fierce gun battle that ended with the death of the suspect, a man in his 20s believed to be responsible for a previous attack on a 61-year-old man.
According to the police chief Todd Schmaderer, the incident began around noon when the young man opened fire several times on the victim inside a supermarket, seriously wounding him in the chest. The man was transported in critical condition to a local hospital. Officers obtained the license plate number of the attacker's vehicle and gave chase, which led them to a gas station where the suspect stopped moments after the initial shooting. Confrontation in the gas station restroom: The suspect was seen repeatedly entering and exiting the restroom. When more officers arrived, he was ordered to leave the restroom, but he responded by firing at the officers, police said in a statement. In that first burst of gunfire, one of the officers was wounded. The attacker retreated back into the bathroom, where he remained barricaded for a few minutes. A bystander who was inside the bathroom at the time managed to escape unharmed before officers again attempted to get the suspect to come out. Second shootout and fatal outcome: When officers again ordered the suspect to surrender, the young man came out firing once more, leading to a second exchange of fire. In this exchange, a second officer was shot and a third was struck by shrapnel. Officers returned fire, and the suspect died at the scene. “This is a very dangerous day involving this suspect in the city of Omaha,” Chief Schmaderer stated, emphasizing the risk faced by law enforcement officers.
Status of the officers and the initial victim
Police reported that the three officers' injuries, while serious, were not life-threatening. Two remained hospitalized, while the third—injured by shrapnel—was released after being evaluated by doctors.
As for the 61-year-old man, wounded in the initial shooting inside the supermarket, his condition remained critical at the time of the police report.