Cops TV Crew Member Killed in Police Shooting

Robbery suspect also shot dead at a Wendy's in Omaha
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 27, 2014 3:56 PM CDT
Cops TV Crew Member Killed in Police Shooting
A crime lab technician walks past bullet-riddled windows at a Wendy's in Omaha, Neb., Wednesday.   (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Another high-profile police shooting is in the news, this time because a crew member of the reality TV show Cops got killed while filming it. Omaha police also killed a robbery suspect at a Wendy's restaurant during last night's shooting, reports the Omaha World-Herald. It all unfolded as officers responded to a robbery in progress at the restaurant. Three officers entered the Wendy's and opened fire when the suspect fired his weapon at them, says the police chief. The suspect's weapon turned out to be a pellet gun. As the wounded suspect fled outside, the officers continued shooting and struck Cops crew member Bryce Dion, who was there filming, reports AP.

"Officers had no choice but to respond in the manner in which they did," said chief Todd Schmaderer, who reviewed Cops' video of the shooting, reports KETV. Both Dion, 38, and suspect Cortez Washington, 32, died of their injuries at the hospital. The TV show has been filming in the city for most of the summer. "Bryce Dion was a long term member of the Cops team and very talented and dedicated person," says a statement from Langley Productions. "We mourn his passing." A grand jury will investigate the shooting. (More Cops stories.)

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