Scottsbluff police shot and killed an armed man Thursday afternoon to end a roughly 5-hour standoff. The names of the victim and the officers involved in the shooting have not been released.
The standoff began shortly before noon when officers responded to a report of a man with a gun at a house in the Hunt’s Acres area of Scottsbluff, followed by one of shots fired.
Scottsbluff police were joined by officers from the Gering police, Scotts Bluff County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska State Patrol, and Nebraska Game and Parks. Together, the agencies helped set a perimeter and evacuate immediate neighbors.
Scottsbluff Police Chief Kevin Spencer says negotiators made repeated attempts to communicate with the suspect using various methods, but that after about 5 hours the decision was made that further negotiations would be fruitless.
A specialized team then entered the house. Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots, but neither Chief Spencer or State Patrol Captain Kurt Von Minden would comment on exactly what happened – other than the suspect was dead.
Spencer said afterwards that no officers or civilians were injured in the lengthy standoff, which he credited to all the agencies and officers being able to work together.
The chief called it “kind of unique to our area” that we all get along very well and we keep our organizational pride in check when it comes to events like this we rely on each other.”
The State Patrol Special Investigations Team has the lead role in the investigation with officers involved in the shooting placed on paid leave, as is standard.
A grand jury will be called as required by state law anytime someone dies in custody or in the process of being arrested.