The “26-year-old man who was shot and killed Wednesday by police after he opened fire on officers was a known gang member,” according to Alissa Skelton, a World-Herald staff writer, Fugitive killed in shootout was known gang member with a violent record, Omaha.com (May 21, 2015). The World-Herald also published a mug shot of the fugitive which is reproduced below.
Further details about the death of Officer Orozco were also reported today:
At 12:58 p.m., Orozco and other members of the Metro Area Fugitive Task Force were near Martin Avenue and Read Street, looking for Wheeler, when they spotted him about a block away, near 31st Avenue and Vane Street.
Wheeler shot at officers, then ran north through a wooded area toward the backyard of a house at 3057 Martin Ave.
Orozco, another officer and a sergeant confronted Wheeler, and shots were exchanged.
Orozco collapsed.
While officers rendered first aid to Orozco, Wheeler ran east and collapsed in the backyard at 3042 Read St. A semiautomatic handgun with a drum magazine was found near him.
A man living at the Read Street house said he saw Wheeler lean against a downspout and fall to the ground. He said Wheeler was pointing at his chest, where he had been shot.
Officers performed CPR on Orozco and Wheeler . . . .
Alia Conley, Maggie O’Brien and Alissa Skelton / World-Herald staff writers, ‘This is a somber day for Omaha’: City mourns a mother, a mentor, an officer killed in the line of duty, Omaha.com (May 21, 2015).
RGK