Person in serious condition after driving through Halloween barricade in Omaha neighborhood

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Chaos at a Halloween event in North Omaha Monday night.

Hundreds of people were allegedly put in danger by a driver and Omaha police ended up shooting that person.

It all started a little after 7 p.m., a terrifying Halloween night for people in the Minne Lusa neighborhood. Several officers were in the area for an annual Halloween event when there was a call for a reckless driver.

Minutes later, police say a driver drove through these barricades and into a crowd of hundreds of people and children. Omaha Police says aerial footage of the scene shows that the driver did not have headlights turned on, and he was traveling in the wrong direction of the road.

An officer at the scene who had his cruiser parked on the median and was handing out candy rushed through the crowd toward the front of the vehicle that went through the barricades.

Police say the officer then gave several verbal commands and gestured for the driver to stop. The driver allegedly ignored the commands and continued to drive forward toward the officer and the crowd.

That’s when the officer fired his weapon, hitting the man inside the car.

Omaha Police says the officer has since been placed on paid administrative leave

“It’s extremely scary. When that type of event happens. Obviously, with hundreds of people, many children, and not expecting cars to be driving through around barricades,” Lt. Neal Bonacci, Omaha Police said.

Despite driving through the packed street police say as of now it doesn’t appear that anyone was hit by the driver.

Police also say the driver of the car was taken to the hospital in serious condition. Tuesday afternoon Omaha Police said the driver is expected to survive.

Plenty of neighbors saw the driver and heard the shots. Many homeowners allowed strangers into their homes to try to help protect people throughout all of the chaos.

Omaha Police says the incident was recorded on body cam. The Nebraska State Patrol and the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office are also assisting with the investigation.

Chief Todd Schmaderer was also on the scene.

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