(Omaha, NE) -- A suspect is in custody after reportedly shooting an Omaha Police officer and leading law enforcement on a high speed chase on Interstate 80.
Just after 4:00 Friday afternoon, a help an officer call went out from an Omaha Police officer who stated that he was down and had been shot. Omaha Police say two officers responded to the mall for a shoplifting at the JCPenney's store. Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said that there was some sort of scuffle between the suspect and an officer in the loss prevention office. Schmaderer said that during the altercation, several shots were fired and that an officer was hit.
The suspect then fled the scene in a white BMW sedan and the officer was transported to the Nebraska Medical Center in critical condition. Omaha Police, the Nebraska State Patrol and Douglas County Sheriff's Department then worked to secure the area.
About an hour later, the suspect vehicle was spotted on westbound I-80 travelling at a high rate of speed and weaving in and out of traffic. Initial reports indicated that the suspect vehicle reached speeds of 145 miles per hour at times. The vehicle then exited I-80 onto Highway 6, driving in the wrong lane of traffic. The suspect vehicle eventually became disabled on railroad tracks, east of Lincoln, where the suspect was taken into custody after surrendering.
At last report, the officer shot is stable, alert and talking.
(Photo by WOWT 6 News)