Omaha police release a report of a fatal officer-involved shooting

On November 10, 2024By Pranco

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Omaha police have interviewed the two officers involved in a shooting killed one And injured again on Thursday.

In a statement released Friday, OPD said the two officers involved in the incident, Pablo Jimenez and Noah Zendejas, faced a “very volatile” situation.

According to an OPD investigation, Rafael Crespo and a 36-year-old woman were both barricaded in an interior closet.

The officers initially tried to de-escalate, but when they heard gunshots, they intervened.

“The officers acted heroically and put themselves in harm’s way to save a hostage whose life was in immediate danger,” said Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer. “The officers involved responded effectively, based on their training, and quickly made the decision to intervene in a rapidly developing, dangerous situation.”

According to the OPD statement, the officers gave voluntary interviews and told investigators that their decision to intervene was “motivated by concern for their lives, (the woman’s life) and the safety of other officers.”

Crime scene evidence and autopsy report that Rafael Crespo, who died Friday eveningdied as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Officer Jimenez has more than 25 years of law enforcement experience, according to the statement.

Officer Zendejas has been with OPD for three and a half years. He was also involved in one fatal officer-involved shooting in September.

The statement said the case will be presented to a grand jury once the investigation is complete.

OPD will comply with Nebraska grand jury statutes regarding the release of the bodycam footage of the incident.

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