From Mashable

(AP) OMAHA, Neb. — Police officers who opened fire while disrupting a robbery at a fast-food restaurant in Omaha killed a crew member with the reality TV show “Cops” as well as the suspect, the authorities said Wednesday.

The suspect was armed with a pellet gun that officers thought was a real handgun.

The suspect fired from the pellet gun before officers returned fire, Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said at a news conference. He said witnesses and officers thought the robbery suspect’s Airsoft handgun looked and sounded real, but discovered later that it fires only plastic pellets.

The suspect was struck by the officers’ gunfire, but fled outside of the restaurant before collapsing.

Officers continued firing on the suspect as he exited the restaurant, and that was when the “Cops” crew member, 38-year-old Bryce Dion, was also struck, said Schamaderer. Dion was wearing a bullet-proof vest, but a single bullet that hit his arm “slipped into a gap in the vest” and entered his chest, Schmaderer said.

“My concern with my officers is that they are taking this very hard,” Schmaderer said. “Bryce was their friend.”

Schmaderer said video captured by another crew member of “Cops” shows the chaotic situation in the restaurant. Police released still shots from the video showing a hooded and masked person pointing what looks like a gun at police. Schmaderer said police would not release the full video, but that it will be part of the grand jury investigation into the shooting.

The suspect was identified as 32-year-old Cortez Washington, who was on parole from Kansas.

Schmaderer said the incident began when one of the officers called to report a robbery at the Wendy’s and requested backup. The “Cops” crew members were with two officers who responded to that request.

When police entered the restaurant and confronted the suspect, Dion, who was the sound operator, got separated from the cameraman, Schmaderer said.

Dion worked for Langley Productions, which is based in Santa Monica, California.

Key executives of the company, President John Langely and Executive Producer Morgan Langley, attended the police news conference in Omaha on Wednesday.

“Bryce has been with us for seven years,” said Morgan Langley, who hired Dion. “This is very hard for us.”

John Langley said the crew had been filming all summer in Omaha and had only one week left in the city when the deadly shooting happened.

“Cops” is one of the longest-running series on television, having debuted in March 1989.

IMAGES:

Producers of “Cops,” John Langley, left, and Morgan Langley, second right, answer questions with Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer, right, during a news conference in Omaha, Neb. Bryce Dion, a sound technician with the TV show, was killed during an armed robbery. IMAGE: NATI HARNIK/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Scene of Omaha armed robbery in which crew member of “Cops” TV show was shot by an officer. MAGE: NATI HARNIK/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bryce Dion From Malorie Maddox

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