‘Cops’ TV show staffer shot during taping of armed robbery in Omaha

An employee of the long-running reality show “Cops” was shot Tuesday night during a taping in Omaha, authorities said.

Police said late Tuesday that officers discovered an armed robbery in progress at a Wendy’s restaurant about 9:20 p.m.

Deputy Chief David Baker, speaking briefly to reporters in televised remarks, said shots were fired and that two people -- the robbery suspect and an employee with the TV show -- were taken to a hospital.

“The suspect in the armed robbery has been declared deceased,” Baker said. He said he did not have information on the condition of the “Cops” employee.

“We ask for your patience in this matter,” Baker said, adding that the investigation would continue overnight and that police had scheduled a morning news conference.

Attempts to reach Langley Productions, one of the producers of “Cops,” for comment were unsuccessful.

The show, which had been broadcast on Fox for 25 years before moving last year to Spike TV, describes itself as “one of the first (and only) true and UNSCRIPTED reality shows.” It has been on the air since 1989. Omaha’s KMTV station reported that “Cops” had been filming there since July.

In audio of the police radio call posted by @MeanStreetsOMA on Soundcloud, an officer can be heard describing a suspect in a “black hoodie and a white bandana” and additional patrol cars are dispatched to the location.

At one point a male voice reports: “We have one of the ‘Cops’ guys has been hit by gunfire; we need a squad here now.” Another male voice urges, “We need multiple squads, two squads.”

A short time later, a man says, “We’ve got a ‘Cops’ cameraman hit, white male, he’s not conscious, he’s slightly breathing.”

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