Omaha police are under scrutiny following the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Steven Phipps by Officer Noah Zendejas during an attempted apprehension for expired vehicle plates. While Phipps was fleeing, Zendejas fired eight shots after the gun in Phipps' hand was allegedly aimed toward Zendejas as Phipps fell from a fence. "That officer's authorized ... to defend himself," stated Police Chief Todd Schmaderer, justifying the officer's actions due to perceived threat levels.
The incident has sparked strong emotions among Phipps' family, who claim he was pleading "don't shoot me" before being mortally wounded. Police say body camera footage suggests shots were fired when Phipps was in the air, and that he didn't drop his gun until after he landed on the ground. County attorney Don Kleine is reviewing the case, with a grand jury also set to examine the incident according to Nebraska law.
This marks the second instance in two months in which an Omaha officer fatally shot a Black man; the first involved a no-knock warrant operation resulting in another officer's dismissal. Amidst these tensions, Schmaderer emphasized the city's ongoing rise in gun recoveries and urged compliance with police orders, noting the implications of non-pursuit of law violators on crime rates. He also reaffirmed his commitment to rebuilding community trust and increasing transparency in local law enforcement practices. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
,
uBlock 
,
and
Ghostery 
)
