The Omaha Police Department and Omaha Downtown Improvement District Association are pushing back against online rumors making the rounds that there is "planned civil unrest" relating to an anticipated grand jury decision in the death James Scurlock.
Singling out a post about officer scheduling, the statement from OPD said the department "has not been notified that a decision has been made” and didn’t know of “any possible or planned civil unrest.”
OPD said the information circulating online did not originate with the department and asked the public to “please keep in mind that everything that is posted on social media may not be factual.” The post came hours after barriers were put in place around the Douglas County Courthouse and Omaha City Hall.
The Omaha Downtown Improvement District Association also issued a statement in reaction to the rumors, stating that they have not been telling any businesses to close early or board up their windows.
Scurlock, a 22 year-old black man, was shot and killed May 30th by a white bar owner during protests in Omaha’s Old Market over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.