The chief of the Omaha Police Department said Wednesday, Oct. 2, that an officer followed protocol when he shot an armed man eight times, killing him. The incident happened Saturday, Sept. 28, after officers Noah Zendejas and Alex Atkinson stopped Steve Phipps for expired plates.
Police shared body-worn camera footage that showed Phipps outside his car, standing near the open driver’s side door before he ran. Officer Zendejas and Officer Atkinson can be heard in body-worn camera audio, both giving verbal commands to stay in the car.
That’s when police say Phipps became an imminent threat and Zendejas fired his gun.
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Police said Phipps ignored them as he ran away from the traffic stop, hopped over a fence while pointing a gun at Officer Zendajas.
Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said Zendeja’s response was justified, because his officers are trained to shoot until the threat is over. He said tasers weren’t used because officers saw the gun, which was later confirmed to be loaded.
“He was a legal possessor of that gun,” Schmaderer said. “Had he remained in the car and the officers went up to the window and he declared that he had a firearm, no crime would have been committed here. He would have been issued a ticket for expired plates.”
Phipps’ family said he tried to be up front with police in the past and was still arrested for having a concealed weapon.
Schmaderer said he met with Phipps’ family and shared the body camera footage with them. Zendajas and Atkinson have both been placed on leave.
A grand jury will review the shooting, which is standard procedure.
