Current:Home > FinanceTrendPulse|Omaha officer followed policy when he fatally shot fleeing man 8 times, police chief says -消息
TrendPulse|Omaha officer followed policy when he fatally shot fleeing man 8 times, police chief says
SafeX Pro Exchange View
Date:2025-04-10 14:33:48
OMAHA,TrendPulse Neb. (AP) — Omaha’s police chief said Wednesday that an officer followed protocol when he shot a fleeing, armed Nebraska man eight times this weekend, killing him.
Steven Phipps, 22, is the second Black man killed by an Omaha officer in the past two months.
Omaha police Chief Todd Schmaderer told reporters police pulled Phipps over for expired plates during a traffic stop Saturday when he ran away. Two officers chased him. Schmaderer said Phipps had a gun, which he legally owned, as he scaled a fence.
The firearm was pointed at Officer Noah Zendejas as Phipps fell from the fence, police said. Zendejas, who has worked for Omaha police for three years, then shot Phipps.
Schmaderer said Zendejas first spotted a heavy weight in Phipps’ hoodie as he ran.
Asked by reporters Wednesday whether Phipps’ gun was accidentally pointed at officers because he was falling, Schmaderer said that is “entirely possible.” But he questioned why Phipps still had possession of the gun and had not thrown it to the side. Schmaderer said Zendejas was also concerned about the risk to a public transit stop nearby.
“We really don’t know what Mr. Phipps’ intent was,” Schmaderer said. “But when that gun started to be pointed to him and he had it in his hand, that officer’s authorized at that point to defend himself.”
Zendejas has not previously been disciplined for violating use-of-force policies, spokesperson Lt. Neal Bonacci said.
Police said an autopsy shows Phipps was not shot in the back. A copy of the autopsy was not immediately provided to reporters.
Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine will review the investigation and decide whether to file charges, and the shooting will later be reviewed by a grand jury under Nebraska law. Kleine’s office did not immediately say when he will announce his decision on any charges.
“I’m so broken that I don’t know what to say. It was just wrong. It was wrong,” Steven Phipps’ aunt, Gail Phipps, said.
Schmaderer last month fired another officer who fatally shot an unarmed man while serving a no-knock warrant, a policy that has since been suspended in the city.
Omaha Police Officer Adam Vail was part of a SWAT team serving the search warrant during a drug and firearms investigation Aug. 28 when he fired the single shot that killed 37-year-old Cameron Ford, prosecutors said. Vail said Ford, who was Black, charged at him without his hands visible.
Kleine declined to charge the officer. But Schmaderer said an internal investigation found Vail violated department procedures.
___
Ballentine reported from Jefferson City, Missouri.
veryGood! (51174)
Related
- What to watch: O Jolie night
- What to know about abortion lawsuits being heard in US courts this week
- Red Wings' David Perron suspended six games for cross-checking Artem Zub in the head
- 'I ain't found it yet.' No line this mother won't cross to save her addicted daughter
- A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
- Steelers' Mike Tomlin wants George Pickens to show his frustrations in 'mature way'
- Texas woman who sued state for abortion travels out of state for procedure instead
- Packers vs. Giants Monday Night Football live updates: Odds, predictions, how to watch
- Appeals court scraps Nasdaq boardroom diversity rules in latest DEI setback
- Russia says it will hold presidential balloting in occupied regions of Ukraine next year
Ranking
- Nevada attorney general revives 2020 fake electors case
- Lawyers for New Hampshire casino owner fight fraud allegations at hearing
- Man imprisoned as teen for flower shop killing is released after judge throws out his conviction
- Florida’s university system under assault during DeSantis tenure, report by professors’ group says
- Woman dies after Singapore family of 3 gets into accident in Taiwan
- US rapper Kendrick Lamar dazzles as he shares South Africa stage with local artists
- In latest crackdown on violence, Greece bans fans at all top-flight matches for two months
- Man charged in Fourth of July parade shooting plans to represent himself at trial
Recommendation
Selena Gomez engaged to Benny Blanco after 1 year together: 'Forever begins now'
Bronze top hat missing from Abraham Lincoln statue in Kentucky
Brain sample from Maine gunman to be examined for injury related to Army Reserves
Horoscopes Today, December 11, 2023
Arkansas State Police probe death of woman found after officer
Former Fox host Tucker Carlson is launching his own streaming network with interviews and commentary
Groups want full federal appeals court to revisit ruling limiting scope of the Voting Rights Act
Man filmed wielding folding chair in riverfront brawl pleads guilty to misdemeanor