For over 25 years, camera crews have followed police officers across the country to film the TV show “Cops.” And for the first time in the show’s history, a crewmember has been fatally injured while filming “Cops.”
NBC’s Omaha station WOWT broke the story (via Deadline) that a “Cops” crewmember had died following a confrontation between police officers and a robbery suspect at a Wendy’s fast food restaurant in Omaha. The robbery suspect reportedly took a clerk hostage at gunpoint before quickly finding himself surrounded by police officers outside the restaurant. In the exchange of gunfire that followed, both the suspect and a “Cops” crewmember were hit. Both men died after being transported to the Nebraska Medical Center.
The company behind “Cops,” Langley Productions has identified the slain crewmember as Bryce Dion, who was a veteran of “Cops” dating back to its run on Fox. In a statement, Langley Productions said “We are deeply saddened and shocked by this tragedy and our main concern is helping his family in any way we can. Bryce Dion was a long term member of the Cops team and a very talented and dedicated person. We mourn his passing. An investigation is ongoing and we are cooperating with local authorities.”
UPDATE: August 27, 4:25PM
Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer held a press conference in which he announced that Dion was struck by “friendly fire” from one of the responding officers. The bullet struck Dion under his left arm, where his protective vest didn’t cover him. The deceased suspect has been identified as Cortez Washington, and he was apparently armed with an Airsoft pistol that didn’t fire real bullets. However, the police assumed that Washington’s weapon was a real threat because its shots “produced a muzzle flash and sounded like actual gunshots.” A grand jury investigation into the shooting has been opened.
CraveOnline extends its condolences and best wishes to Dion’s family, friends and fellow crewmembers on “Cops.”
