Current:Home > MyProsecutor says Omaha officer was justified in fatally shooting fleeing man-VaTradeCoin
Prosecutor says Omaha officer was justified in fatally shooting fleeing man
lotradecoin trading tutorial videos View Date:2024-12-25 23:04:29
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A prosecutor has decided not to file charges against an Omaha police officer who fatally shot an armed Nebraska man eight times while he was fleeing.
Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said Monday that Officer Noah Zendejas’ “actions were justified in the shooting of Steven Phipps.”
Police showed video and still photos of what happened last week during a briefing. After Phipps was pulled over for having expired plates on Sept. 28, he ran away and scaled a chain link fence. As he fell head-first from the fence, body camera video showed Phipps holding a gun in his right hand.
“The actions of Mr. Phipps in producing a firearm at a traffic stop, not complying with officers’ commands, and Mr. Phipps’ gun barrel being pointed towards the officers during the incident justified the officers decision to use deadly force,” Kleine said in his two-paragraph statement.
The decision will disappoint community members who have been calling for accountability after Phipps’ death and another recent fatal police shooting. The families of Phipps and the other man killed by police, Cameron Ford, both attended a community meeting Sunday night to share their concerns about the shootings.
“It’s devastating, but it’s not surprising,” Steven Phipps’ aunt, Angela Phipps, said after learning about Kleine’s decision.
Two of Angela Phipps’ cousins were arrested after they left Sunday’s community meeting. Police didn’t immediately respond to questions about why those two young men were arrested.
Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer acknowledged last week that it was “entirely possible” that Phipps’ gun was accidentally pointed at officers because he was falling. But he questioned why Phipps still had possession of the gun and had not thrown it to the side.
Schmaderer said Zendejas also told investigators he was concerned about the risk to a public transit stop nearby. Schmaderer said the officers followed department policy
Last month, Schmaderer fired another officer who fatally shot Ford, who wasn’t armed 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 a search warrant during a drug and firearms investigation Aug. 28 when he fired the single shot that killed 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.
“Cameron or Steven, they weren’t the first and they definitely won’t be the last, especially at this rate where no officers are being held accountable,” Angela Phipps said.
veryGood! (4493)
Related
- Drew Barrymore Addresses Criticism Over Her Touchiness With Talk Show Guests
- Biden declares emergency over lead in water in US Virgin Islands
- Why Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys always play on Thanksgiving: What to know about football tradition
- Why Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys always play on Thanksgiving: What to know about football tradition
- Trump taps immigration hard
- What is the longest-running sitcom? This show keeps the laughs coming... and coming
- Roll your eyes, but Black Friday's still got it. So here's what to look for
- Palestinian flag displayed by fans of Scottish club Celtic at Champions League game draws UEFA fine
- A Malibu wildfire prompts evacuation orders and warnings for 20,000, including Dick Van Dyke, Cher
- Meet the influential women behind Argentina’s President-elect Javier Milei
Ranking
- 'The Voice' Season 26 finale: Coach Michael Bublé scores victory with Sofronio Vasquez
- Military scientists identify remains of Indiana soldier who died in German WWII battle
- Retiree records bat sex in church attic, helps scientists solve mystery of species' super long penis
- Police say some 70 bullets fired in North Philadelphia shooting that left 2 dead, 5 wounded
- Supreme Court allows investors’ class action to proceed against microchip company Nvidia
- US prints record amount of $50 bills as Americans began carrying more cash during pandemic
- Germany to extradite an Italian man suspected in the killing of a woman that outraged Italy
- Florida mom, baby found stabbed to death, as firefighters rescue 2 kids from blaze
Recommendation
-
What was 2024's best movie? From 'The Substance' to 'Conclave,' our top 10
-
Authorities warn that fake HIV drugs are found in Kenya despite a crackdown on counterfeits
-
The US has thwarted a plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader, an AP source says
-
Bill Cosby, NBCUniversal sued by actress on 'The Cosby Show' for alleged sexual assault, battery
-
'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
-
Antoni Porowski and Kevin Harrington Break Up After 4 Years Together
-
'A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving' turns 50 this year. How has it held up?
-
India in G20 summit welcomes Israel-Hamas cease-fire, urges action on climate, other issues