Omaha Police say they had no choice based on video evidence but to open fire on an armed robbery suspect at Wendy’s Tuesday night.
A COPS sound technician, 38-year-old Bryce Dion, was shot one time and died at an Omaha hospital. Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer says Dion was killed by friendly fire. COPS crews traveling with police wear ballistic vests.
Chief Schmaderer says officers responded to Wendy’s in midtown Omaha just after 9 pm Tuesday for a report of an armed robbery. There, they confronted 32-year-old Cortez Washington, who was armed with an Airsoft rifle. Schmaderer says Washington fired at officers, who returned fire. Washington fled the building and collapsed in the parking lot, where he was arrested. He died at an Omaha hospital a short time later.
The three Omaha Police officers, 37-year-old Darren Cunningham, 34-year-old Brooks Riley, and 39-year-old Jason Wilhelm, are on administrative leave during the investigation. A grand jury will be convened.
COPS crews came to Omaha in June and planned to film in the city for one more week.