"Cops" Crew Member, Robbery Suspect Fatally Shot by Police

Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer identified the two men killed during a robbery Tuesday night as 32-year-old Cortez Washington, the suspect, and 38-year-old Bryce Dion, an audio technician with the television show "Cops." Both were killed by police gunfire. The chief said, "The officers had no choice other than to respond in the way that they did," reports WOWT.com .

Tuesday night, an apparent robbery was in progress inside a Wendy's. Omaha Deputy Police Chief Dave Baker said Tuesday night that a man was holding a clerk at gunpoint and demanded cash.

The chief said Wednesday all three officers entered the restaurant and confronted the suspect. The Cops crew - a photographer and Dion, the audio tech - went in with them.

Schmaderer said according to witnesses, the suspect discharged a handgun that turned out to be an Airsoft pellet gun. He says witnesses reported hearing the gun and seeing the recoil.

Officers returned fire. Washington was shot. The chief said, "Mr. Dion was also injured by a single gunshot and collapsed." This apparently happened when officers continued firing at the suspect as we exited the restaurant before collapsing outside, reports the Associated Press .  

Both men were taken to the Nebraska Medical Center and pronounced dead a short time later.