OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — On Tuesday the Omaha Police Department was still trying to piece together what exactly happened at a Halloween event attended by hundreds on Monday night that led to a man being shot by officers.
According to OPD, several officers were on hand for the event near Newport Avenue and Minne Lusa Blvd, passing out candy from the trunks of their cruisers.
That's when they heard a call go out about a reckless driver in the neighborhood. Shortly after one officer noticed a car drive past several barriers that were used to block off the events and saw that car begin driving recklessly through the crowd.
The officer then put himself in front of the vehicle and ordered the suspect to stop. When the suspect ignored those commands the officer fired 7 shots at the suspect, 31-year-old Dontavius Levering, hitting him 3 times. He survived his injuries and is currently in stable condition.
"It is our job as police officers to put ourselves into harm's way to protect the public. Officer Blanchford did exactly that and it's hard not to imagine his actions saved lives. This was a crowded street, barricaded off with small children unable to move quickly without adult assistance. That's the backdrop that Officer Blanchford left," said Schamderer.
That shooting was just one of several that have happened over the last two months.
Earlier in August officers shot and killed a man after he approached them with a shotgun while being served process papers.
Then on Sunday officers shot and killed a man who witnesses say was firing a handgun near residences. Officers recovered a weapon found near the suspect but found it had no round in the chamber and none in the magazine. They did however find two spent shell casings on the street nearby.
"I have analyzed everything we have so far on this particular matter and the officer's actions were in accordance with our policy. In addition, this particular instance had elements of the phenomenom suicide by cop," said Schmaderer.
Schmaderer said that having 3 officer-involved shootings so close to one another is unusual but said the number itself isn't unusual.
"When you look at the size Omaha is compared to other cities that's still a very low number. In 2010 we had 11 officers involved shootings and three is a number that is acceptable for a city our size," said OPD chief Todd Schamderer.
The investigations into the two most recent shootings are still preliminary and will take some time, and the officers will remain on administrative leave until that process has finished.
"Once we determine that policy and legality wise they are ready to come back to work we make sure they see a psychologist to make sure they are mentally prepared to come back to work at this time. Once those hurdles are crossed and jumped over that's when the officers will return to work," said Schamderer.
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