UPDATE: 5:25 PM
A little before noon, Omaha Police pursued a suspect vehicle through the city. The pursuit lasted approximately 30 minutes and traveled along I-80 and major streets. At one point it went off the road and along a pedestrian trail.
Police say the incident started at 11:40 a.m. on 72nd and Pine Streets at Wal-Mart with an alleged shoplifting incident. OPD says that an officer working off-duty as security for the store, confronted two shoplifting suspects. A physical altercation between the officer and the suspects took place inside the store when the officer attempted to detain them. The suspects were eventually identified by police as Ve'Angelo Moore, 20, and Natalya Cooper, 19.
During the altercation, police allege that a handgun fell off Moore and onto the floor. He allegedly picked up the firearm and pointed it toward the officer. Moore and Cooper, say police, left the store and fled in a black, Ford sedan. There was a "help an officer" call over the police radio and a chase ensued.
The pursuit continued on-and-off surface streets, westbound on I-80 and, at one point, on the trail before ending in a crash near 110th and Harrison Streets in southwest Omaha. The pursuit, at least at one point, reached a speed of 108 miles an hour during the chase, according to police radios.
3 News Now photojournalist Wade Lux was told by police that the female driver of the suspect vehicle was taken to the hospital in serious condition, and her male passenger suffered minor injuries. A bystander vehicle, a black pickup truck, was also hit in the crash. There were three women in the pickup.
OPD said in a news release that "Moore and Cooper will both be booked at Douglas County Corrections for various charges related to the incident." Moore will be booked on charges of assaulting an officer, resisting arrest, use of a weapon to commit a felony, shoplifting and possession of marijuana.
Cooper, who is the alleged driver, will be booked for accessory to a felony, flight to avoid arrest and shoplifting.
This is a developing story and we'll update this story when more information is available.
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