"Cops" TV crew member dies after Neb. restaurant shootout
OMAHA, Neb. - A crew member with the "Cops" television show was killed when a shootout erupted after officers responded to a robbery at a fast food restaurant, reports the Omaha World-Herald.
CBS This Morning reports the crew member, an audio supervisor for the show, was 38-year-old Bryce Dion.
The Wendy's in midtown Omaha remained closed Wednesday, its windows stitched by bullet holes, after gunfire broke out in the establishment Tuesday night.
Deputy Police Chief Dave Baker said an officer saw a man robbing the restaurant about 9:20 p.m. and called for backup. Police have not said what happened immediately before the shooting began nor whether the suspect and the crew member were fatally wounded by police gunfire.
Law enforcement sources reportedly told the World-Herald that over 30 shots were fired - all by police. The robbery suspect was apparently only carrying an Airsoft gun, a non-lethal weapon which shoots plastic projectiles, officials said.
Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer told CBS This Morning that the suspect's fake gun was made to look and sound like an actual firearm. "Witnesses described hearing the suspect's handgun being fired, and seeing the slide recoil with the shots."
The suspect was an unidentified parolee from Kansas with a long criminal record, according to the paper.
No officers were hit, and police said no other suspects are being sought. The "Cops" crew member and the suspect were taken to Nebraska Medical Center just a few blocks away. The crew member was reportedly in critical condition. Police announced Tuesday night that the suspect had been pronounced dead at the hospital. The World-Herald reported the crew member had died Wednesday morning.
The names of those involved haven't been released. Police provided no details on the nature of the crew member's injuries.
"Cops" is reality show that depicts law enforcement officers in action. According to its website, the show has been filmed in at least 140 U.S. cities and three foreign counties. A representative for the company behind "Cops," Langley Productions, of Santa Monica, California, declined to comment.
Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said in June that allowing "Cops" access to film in Omaha was part of his department's community policing initiative.
"I am proud of the department and want the professionalism of our officers on display for the city and world to see," Schmaderer said.
His department spokeswoman, Lt. Darci Tierney, declined to provide any new information Wednesday but said a news conference is expected later in the day.