A man is behind bars after police say he shot another man during a child custody exchange on Monday.
Omaha Police say they were called to the area of Turner Boulevard and Mason Street just after 3:45 Monday afternoon for a reported shooting. When officers arrived they found 23 year old Austin Carter suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to Nebraska Medicine for treatment of a non-life threatening injury.
Police say following the shooting, the suspect vehicle was involved in an accident at Leavenworth and Turner Boulevard. Investigators say officers found the vehicle and the driver, 22 year old Megan Martin, along with two young children in the vehicle. They say the suspect, 34 year old Diego Vazquez, was in the passenger seat and fled on foot following the accident. Officers were able to locate Vazquez near 35th and Jackson and took him into custody.
Police say investigators determined that Martin and Carter have children together and were meeting in order to exchange custody. They say investigators also determined that the parties involved anticipated a conflict between Carter and Vazquez.
Vazquez was booked on charges Second Degree Assault, Use of a Weapon to Commit a Felony, Possession of a Weapon by a Prohibited Person, two counts of Child Abuse, and Obstructing a Police Officer. Martin was booked on two counts of Child Abuse.
The children have been placed into protective custody.