By Police1 Staff
OMAHA, Neb. — Recently released video shows a 2014 police shootout at a Nebraska Wendy’s that killed a crew member of the TV show “Cops.”
The video released Tuesday shows Omaha officers firing at a robber, who was armed with a pellet gun, at a Wendy’s restaurant in August 2014, NBC News reports. During the shootout, 38-year-old Bryce Dion, a sound supervisor for the show, was hit.
Dion, who was wearing body armor, died after accidentally being shot below his left armpit. The robber, 32-year-old Cortez Washington, was also killed in the shootout.
The Omaha PD said they believed Washington had a real gun on him.
After the shooting, Dion’s brother Trevor filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against police. The suit alleges that police were negligent and said Dion was acting “in accord with police officer instructions” when he was hit.
The video was played in the court hearing after a judge denied the city of Omaha’s request to bar the release of the footage.
Chief Todd Schmaderer said the officers’ actions were justified. Three officers involved were also cleared by a grand jury.
Dion’s death was the first of a crew member in the show’s history.