Omaha Police have released more details on Monday afternoon's officer involved shooting that left an officer and the suspect wounded.
Interviews with Officers Jill Schillerberg and Matthew Skradski were completed Tuesday afternoon. The incident was audio recorded from the mobile video camera in the officers’ assigned cruiser. The cruiser video camera was activated and fully functioning before the officers made contact with Monroe Evans, but the incident happened outside the view of the video camera.
Body worn cameras are assigned to individual Omaha Police Officers. But neither officer were part of the first phase of officers assigned cameras.
The officers responded to a suspicious person call at 1327 Park Avenue just after 1:00 p.m.
As the officers drove to the call, they saw Evans walking at the intersection of Park Avenue and Leavenworth Street. When the officers arrived at 1327 Park Avenue, the 911 caller provided a description of the suspect that matched the description of Mr. Evans.
The officers then drove back to look for Mr. Evans and found him at him at 33rd Avenue and Turner Blvd. Investigators say the audio recording from the cruiser camera captured the officers' verbal exchange with Evans. During the conversation, Officer Skardski can be heard asking Evans for his name.
Officer Skradski told Evans to stop and to remove his hands from his pockets several times. From the start of the contact with Evans was verbally non-compliant, kept his hands in the pocket of his sweatshirt, and continued to walk away from the two officers.
The officers eventually attempted to pat down Mr. Evans for weapons and a struggle ensued. While all three were still standing, Officer Schillerberg was able to get one handcuff on Evans’ left wrist. After one cuff was on Mr. Evans’ wrist, the officers continued to direct him to put his hands behind his back several times, however, Evans refused to comply with their commands.
At 1:11 p.m., Evans discharged one round from a Norinco Tokarev, 9mm handgun, which struck Officer Schillerberg in the inside of her lower left leg. The round grazed her leg, traveled through her boot and exited onto the ground. Both officers disengaged from the suspect and returned gunfire. Officer Matthew Skradski discharged his .40 caliber Glock, Model 22 duty handgun 11 times. Officer Jill Schillerberg fired one round from her .45 caliber Glock, Model 21 duty handgun.
During her interview with detectives, Officer Schillerberg said that while they were attempting to handcuff Mr. Evans, he said he was going to “start popping”, which is confirmed by the cruiser camera audio recording. Instantaneously, Officer Schillerberg saw Mr. Evans with the gun in his right hand and shoot it. After Evans discharged his gun, Officer Schillerberg immediately felt pain in her left leg.
During her interview Schillerberg said Evans fell to the ground, onto his back, he was still holding his handgun. Officer Schillerberg said that Evans raised the gun up in her direction as she scrambled to get out of the way. Officer Schillerberg said that Officer Skradski continued to fire at Mr. Evans as he was tracking her with this handgun.
During Officer Skradski’s interview, he said that he was giving verbal commands to Mr. Evans to take his hands out of his pockets. He said that Mr. Evans verbally refused to comply with his commands. Officer Skradski said that he drew his Taser and told Evans he would be tased if he refused to comply.
Officer Skradski said that Mr. Evans momentarily complied enough for the officers to attempt to control Mr. Evans. As the officers grabbed him, he began resisting the officers. Officer Skradski holstered his Taser as both officers struggled to control Mr. Evans and get him into the second handcuff.
Officer Skradski said that after the gunshots were fired and he radioed for a squad and more officers, he observed Mr. Evans’ handgun on the ground next to him. Officer Skradski said that he kicked the gun away from Evans.
Evans was treated for gunshot wounds to his shoulder, both arms, both legs, and his torso. He's currently in critical condition at Nebraska Medicine, under a police hospital guard.
Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer issued this statement Tuesday evening. "The officers were justified in their use of deadly force, which was in direct response to Mr. Evans' actions I full anticipate criminal charges against Mr. Evans upon his release from the hospital."