2 Nebraska Officers Wounded, Suspect Killed in Shootout

2 Nebraska Officers Wounded, Suspect Killed in Shootout
Omaha police investigate the scene where two Omaha Police officers were shot and injured and a third person was killed during an attempted burglary at a storage facility on Jan. 30, 2023. (Chris Machian/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
The Associated Press
1/31/2023
Updated:
1/31/2023
0:00

OMAHA, Neb—Two Nebraska police officers were wounded, and a suspect was killed in a shootout during an attempted burglary, police said.

Omaha police Chief Todd R. Schmaderer said the two officers responded to a report of a burglary at a storage business around 10:30 p.m. Monday, the Omaha World-Herald reported.

Employees let the officers into the Dino’s Storage building in central Omaha, and they chased the suspect out of an open storage unit. After they caught up to him, the officers got into a physical altercation and exchanged gunfire with the suspect, who was shot multiple times and killed.

Police identified the suspect Tuesday as a 39-year-old local man, Steven Docken. Investigators recovered a handgun near his body.

A family member of Docken’s told the newspaper Tuesday morning that the family wouldn’t comment about the incident.

The officers, who were not immediately identified, were transported to Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha by ambulance and police cruiser. One was shot near his knee and might require surgery, and the other officer was shot through his upper leg.

Schmaderer said he spoke to the officers, who were awake and alert after the shootout. The officer who was shot through his upper leg had been released from the hospital by Tuesday morning.

The Nebraska State Patrol and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office were expected to be involved in the investigation. Both officers were wearing body cameras, and security video from the storage business was made available for review.

A police spokesman said Tuesday that the body camera footage could not be immediately released because it will be part of a grand jury investigation of the incident that is required under state law.

The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave while the shooting is being reviewed.