Omaha Police identify officers involved in fatal shooting

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - A 38-year-old man was killed Monday night after in an officer-involved shooting at a storage facility.

Omaha Police identified the man as Steven Docken of Council Bluffs, who was wanted on two bench warrants: one for failing to show up for a violation of probation hearing on Oct. 6; and for failing to show up for a pretrial hearing on a case where he was accused of disturbing the peace and obstructing a peace officer.

His probation stemmed from Sept. 14 guilty plea to an Aug. 30 incident in which he falsely imprisoned a woman he was in a relationship with at a gas station. He was arrested five days after entering that guilty plea after an assault on the woman; those charges were formalized as disturbing the peace and obstructing a peace officer.

On Sept. 23, he was served with a protection order requiring him to stay away from her. Six days later, he was charged with violating that protection order and was again accused of disturbing the peace.

Docken also had previously served about 6.5 years in prison on sentences dating back to 2013.

He served about three and a half years, from December 2013 to June 2017, for possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person and attempted theft by receiving items valued at $1,500; and a little more than three years for attempted distribution of methamphetamine, from October 2019 to December 2021.

MONDAY NIGHT SHOOTING

According to Omaha Police, officers were called to Dino’s Storage at 53rd and Center streets around 10:30 p.m. for a burglary in progress. The property manager told 911 a man was breaking into a storage unit containing a gun case and ammunition.

When the officers arrived, they attempted to make contact with Docken, who was in an open unit.

Investigators say an altercation started after Docken ran from responding Officers Nicholas Lanning and Joshua Moore. During the struggle, gunfire was exchanged.

Both officers were shot in their lower extremities.

Docken was hit several times. Life-saving efforts were made, but he died at the scene. According to an OPD release, a firearm was found near him.

Lanning has served with OPD for seven years, and Moore has been with OPD for one year, according to a Tuesday update from OPD.

OPD Chief Todd Schmaderer told 6 News at the scene Monday night that the officers were taken to UNMC. Both were said to be in good condition, and one has since been released.

The Nebraska State Patrol and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office are assisting with the investigation. The officers will be interviewed in the coming days and have been placed on paid administrative leave.

The incident was captured on both body-worn cameras of the involved officers.

Center Street was closed in both directions for several hours overnight. It has since reopened.

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