Steven Phipps Jr. dies in fatal Omaha police shooting
Steven Phipps Jr. dies in fatal Omaha police shooting
Fatal Omaha police shooting death of Steven Phipps Jr. – Obituary.
On September 28, 2024, Steven Phipps Jr., a 22-year-old man, was shot and killed by an Omaha police officer following a traffic stop for expired license plates. This incident has intensified tensions between law enforcement and the community.
During a press conference on October 2, Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer provided details regarding the shooting. According to the police, Phipps attempted to flee on foot and was seen jumping over a fence while holding a gun. Officer Noah Zendejas, who has been with the Omaha Police Department for three and a half years, fired at Phipps as he scaled the fence.
Zendejas has since been placed on paid administrative leave while an internal investigation is underway. Chief Schmaderer expressed his belief that the officer’s actions adhered to department protocols.
This shooting follows another incident in August where 37-year-old Cameron Ford was fatally shot by a SWAT officer during a no-knock search warrant execution. Both Phipps and Ford were Black men. The Douglas County Attorney has not yet decided whether to file charges against Zendejas.
Surveillance footage captured the events leading to Phipps’ death, showing him being pulled over around 5:45 p.m. that evening. As he exited the vehicle and attempted to flee, Zendejas instructed him to remain in the car. Phipps then leaped over a chain-link fence, gun in hand, and was shot eight times by Zendejas. Despite attempts to resuscitate him, Phipps was pronounced dead at the Nebraska Medical Center.
Authorities confirmed that Phipps was in lawful possession of the firearm but had failed to inform the officers of it, as required by state law. Chief Schmaderer noted that if Phipps had remained in the vehicle and disclosed the gun’s presence, he likely would have only received a citation for the expired plates.
Phipps’ family and community leaders have expressed concern over the shooting, with family members indicating that he had felt targeted by police in previous interactions. They criticized the police’s response and called for justice. A grand jury is expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding Phipps’ death in the coming months.
Steven Phipps Jr. dies in fatal Omaha police shooting Fatal Omaha police shooting death of Steven Phipps Jr. – Obituary. On September 28, 2024, Steven Phipps Jr., a 22-year-old man, was shot and killed by an Omaha police officer following a traffic stop for expired license plates. This incident has intensified tensions between law enforcement…
Steven Phipps Jr. dies in fatal Omaha police shooting Fatal Omaha police shooting death of Steven Phipps Jr. – Obituary. On September 28, 2024, Steven Phipps Jr., a 22-year-old man, was shot and killed by an Omaha police officer following a traffic stop for expired license plates. This incident has intensified tensions between law enforcement…