Police say the man was linked to a noon shooting at a nearby grocery store that critically injured a 61-year-old.
OMAHA, NE — Three Omaha police officers were injured and a shooting suspect was killed Wednesday afternoon during exchanges of gunfire at a QuikTrip gas station near 32nd and L streets, authorities said. The confrontation followed an earlier attack at a grocery store across town.
Police said the case unfolded over several hours and across multiple locations, drawing a large response from patrol officers and detectives. Investigators believe the suspect, a man in his 20s, first opened fire around noon at Phil’s Foodway near 30th Street and Ames Avenue, critically wounding a 61-year-old man. Officers used a license plate from that scene to locate the suspect’s vehicle at the South Omaha gas station. By late afternoon, roads around the QuikTrip were blocked, and nearby businesses were told to shelter while the police attempt unfolded.
According to Police Chief Todd Schmaderer, officers saw the suspect go into a restroom at the QuikTrip shortly after 2:20 p.m. When officers ordered him out, he fired, striking one officer before retreating. A bystander who had been inside the restroom was able to exit between bursts of gunfire. During a second exchange outside, the suspect again shot at officers, wounding a second officer and injuring a third with shrapnel, Schmaderer said. Officers returned fire, killing the suspect at the scene. “This was a very dangerous day for Omaha,” Schmaderer said at a briefing near the station.
Authorities said all three injured officers were taken to local hospitals with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. One officer was later discharged, and two remained hospitalized Wednesday night for further treatment. The 61-year-old man shot at the grocery store was listed in critical condition. Police did not immediately release the suspect’s name, saying notifications and identification procedures were underway. Investigators recovered multiple shell casings at both locations and were reviewing surveillance video from the grocery store and the gas station.
Wednesday’s violence drew a heavy response from city and county agencies to two parts of Omaha about six miles apart. Phil’s Foodway, a neighborhood grocery near 30th and Ames, was taped off around midday while detectives documented bullet strikes and interviewed shoppers who saw the initial attack. In South Omaha, cruisers, unmarked units and ambulances crowded the QuikTrip parking lot for hours. Traffic on L Street was diverted as crime scene technicians photographed the area where officers exchanged fire with the suspect and collected evidence into the evening.
Police said the investigation remains active. Standard reviews of the officers’ use of force are expected, including collection of body-worn camera footage, interviews with the involved officers and witnesses, and a ballistics comparison between the scenes. Officials said they would release the suspect’s identity after formal confirmation and family notification. The department planned additional updates as evidence is processed and as the condition of the hospitalized officers and the grocery store victim is monitored. No timeline for those releases was announced late Wednesday.
Residents filtered back into nearby businesses as the scene cleared. Some described ducking behind aisles or counters when sirens converged on the QuikTrip. Store employees stacked caution cones near the restroom corridor where the standoff began, while customers used side doors guided by officers. “It felt like it wouldn’t end,” said Maria Torres, who works at a shop across L Street and watched the response unfold. “We just prayed the officers would be OK.” Schmaderer thanked bystanders who followed directions amid the chaos and said investigators would remain at both scenes into the night.
As of late Wednesday, police said two officers remained hospitalized in stable condition, the third had been released, and the 61-year-old victim from the grocery store remained critical. Further updates on identifications and investigative findings are expected in the coming days.
Author note: Last updated December 3, 2025.