Omaha police: man shot, killed by officer during search warrant was unarmed (2024)

An Omaha police officer is under investigation after fatally shooting an unarmed man while serving a no-knock search warrant last week.

Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said during a press conference Sunday that Officer Adam Vail of the department’s SWAT team came face-to-face with Cameron Ford, named in the search warrant, in a very tight hallway and fired one shot, killing Ford. The incident occurred Wednesday at 7 a.m. in the upstairs area of Ford’s home near 78th and Redick Avenues.

“Mr. Ford charged out of the (bedroom) and Officer Vail was unable to see his hands,” Schmaderer said. “Mr. Ford was shot in the chest through the left side from an estimated five feet away.”

Officers immediately began CPR and Ford was pronounced deceased at an Omaha hospital. Schmaderer and members of his command staff first met Sunday with seven members of Ford’s family and State Sen. Terrell McKinney, to brief them on the investigation.

Schmaderer said Vail is on desk duty pending the outcome of the investigation. Vail is a 17-year member of law enforcement, including more than six years with the Omaha Police Department. He has been involved in serving 122 “high risk” search warrants.

Vail’s body-worn camera video was obscured by the ballistic shield he was carrying due to the police department’s assessment of the danger Ford presented, Schmaderer said. Ford, who was alone in the house, was a known gang member with a lengthy criminal history, including possession of narcotics and firearms, according to police. The search warrant was for firearms and drugs in the home.

Officers recovered 46 grams of suspected fentanyl, 816 fentanyl pills, 292 grams of marijuana and paraphernalia commonly used in narcotics sales. They also found an AR-15 semi-automatic pistol next to Ford’s bed.

Audio of the encounter between Vail and Ford was played during the press conference with still frames taken from Vail’s body-worn camera. Ford’s family told police there may be hidden cameras in the home and a search of the house was being conducted.

An officer, identified by Schmaderer as Vail, can be heard shouting five times that police were in the home to serve a search warrant. Vail and another officer proceeded to an upstairs hallway later determined to be just three feet wide. The two officers were in single file with Vail in the lead.

One gunshot can be heard and then someone, determined to be Vail, says, “Oh, (expletive)!” During an interview with investigators Friday, Vail said Ford’s rapid movements caused him to fear for the safety of himself and the other officers.

Although Ford was unarmed, the officer’s voice can be clearly heard announcing his intentions on video. Vail’s verbal response to the shooting doesn’t necessarily imply error, Schmaderer said.

“There’s a gray area here. It can be taken that way,” Schmaderer said. “Or it can be taken that he was startled by (Ford’s) charge. It’s very hard to say.”

Investigators, including the Nebraska State Patrol and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, will try to decipher Ford’s intentions and Vail’s actions. The Douglas County Attorney’s Office and a grand jury will receive the investigation’s results.

“(Ford) didn’t voice anything. He didn’t surrender, but he didn’t pick up his gun and exit into the hallway,” Schmaderer said. “When I talk about gray areas, that’s what I am talking about.”

Schmaderer, who appeared at the press conference with Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert and members of the chief’s command staff, said the press conference, originally slated for Tuesday, was moved after Vail’s interview was completed.

“I knew Tuesday was too long, but I didn’t know when the officer would be interviewed,” he said. “This is the earliest that we could get the information out. I am determined to be as transparent as possible for our police-community relations.”

Schmaderer said he is considering a change in the location for body-worn cameras after the shooting.

“I am strongly considering fixing the camera to the helmet for SWAT service,” Schmaderer said. “Even then, it’s a dynamic environment with shields and around corners that may or may not capture everything, but we want to give it the best chance we can.”

The police department is also going to review its policies for no-knock search warrants, Schmaderer said. Currently, a no-knock search warrant must be approved by a captain or chief deputy.

Schmaderer said his department determines a threat assessment before applying for a no-knock search warrant. A score of 25 is the minimum threshold for requesting a no-knock warrant, he said, and the assessment for Ford was at 80.