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Deputies investigate Omaha hotel shooting

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By The Associated Press

Wednesday, May 07, 2008 - 01:14:28 pm CDT

OMAHA — A routine investigation of a purse theft from a church turned violent and bloody inside a downtown Omaha hotel on Wednesday.

A struggle broke out at the door of a room on the fourth floor of the Courtyard Marriott as two deputies confronted a man a little after 10 a.m.

Speaking to reporters later, Sheriff Tim Dunning said the man picked up a vase in the room and struck one of the deputies. The deputy drew his handgun and fired twice, Dunning said, striking the man in the chest and a leg.

The man, whom Dunning tentatively identified as 32-year-old Jason Galle of Omaha, was taken by ambulance to an Omaha hospital. Galle’s injuries were not believed to be life threatening.

A pregnant woman who was in the room during the struggle was not injured, but Dunning said she was taken to a hospital because she was experiencing some discomfort.

The deputy, identified as Mike Smith, was also taken for treatment.

“He got a pretty good laceration on the back of his head,” Dunning said.

The other deputy was identified as Brenda Wheeler.

A trail of credit card purchases led deputies to the hotel, Dunning said.

The cards came from a purse that had been stolen at St. Wenceslaus Catholic church in west Omaha.

Authorities believe two other suspects were at the hotel but fled. Investigators were still on the scene, the sheriff said.

“This was just a routine follow-up investigation that turned into a shooting,” Dunning said.


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Not to minimize this wrote on May 7, 2008 12:14 pm:
" But I'm kinda glad I don't live in Omaha. It may be "exciting" as some have said, but no thanks. "

 wrote on May 7, 2008 1:40 pm:
" So the dude throws a vase...where is the mase?...because from what I know that is less deadly then a gun and from what I can recall vases cant kill but I may be wrong. "

 DR wrote on May 7, 2008 2:39 pm:
" Thank you to the officers who risk their lives everyday. Hitting an officer with any object justifies an escalation in force. I hope the officer firing the shots was intentionally attempting to wound without killing. They may need to shoot to kill in the future and it would be good to be an expert marksman. "

 Nic F wrote on May 7, 2008 3:38 pm:
" Thank you Mike Smith for your dedication to protecting civilians. I hope your injuries heal soon. Thank you for using self control and shooting the criminal in places that would only disable him and not kill him. You do a fine job sir! "

 Seriously wrote on May 7, 2008 3:40 pm:
" Are you serious? "Where is the Mase"? You know, he could of just opened up the door and cooperated with the police. Then there would be no violence. The suspect brought it on himself. Good for the police. I'm sick of you people that are always out for the police saying they are wrong. Try this, don't do anything illegal and cooperate with the police when asked, and nobody gets hurt. You people disgust me. "

 wake up people wrote on May 7, 2008 3:46 pm:
" The Officer is lucky it was just a vase. What do you think the guy would have done after throwing the vase? Officers are there not only to protect us, but themselves as well. Officers do have families waiting for them to come home at the end of their shift. "

 Nate T wrote on May 7, 2008 3:50 pm:
" To the person who didn't leave a name, any blunt force trauma to the head can be leathal. If you don't want to get shot, DON'T ATTACK A COP. Period. I don't see the problem with this and don't have any sympathy for someone that gets shot for doing something so incredibly stupid. "

 Eric wrote on May 7, 2008 4:01 pm:
" If the guy wasn't afraid to hit the officer with an object he wouldn't be afraid to shoot him. The officer has no idea what else was in the room with this nut. Good for the officer for protecting himself and others in the area. "

 Tim wrote on May 7, 2008 6:29 pm:
" Physically assaulting an officer of the law with vase constitutes assault with a deadly weapon in my book. He was entirely justified to respond with lethal force. The dirtbag hit the officer in the head for cryin' out loud. He was TRYING to hurt the deputy. How big and heavy was the vase? How big and heavy was the dirtbag?

Are LEO's supposed to serve as punching bags and risk their physical well being due to the irresponsible and potentially dangerous actions of those who don't obey the law?

I say no. Hell no.

As far as this "shoot to wound" nonsense goes, every LEO is trained to "shoot to stop" That means shooting for center of mass or the torso. Biggest target and the best chance to stop the BG from whatever he was doing that caused him to be shot in the first place. And for what it's worth, less than 14% of handgun wounds are lethal according to the FBI.

I believe any criticism of the deputy is totally unjustified judging by the facts as we know them. LEO's are entitled to defend themselves. Anyone who's stupid enough to assault an armed, trained LEO deserves what they get.

I'm glad to hear the deputy is alright. Maybe his assailant got a relatively cheap life lesson?

It's simple. Dont want to get shot? Don't assault officers of the law. "

 Doug wrote on May 7, 2008 7:10 pm:
" The person with no name was right when he said "I may be wrong"
In every sense you are wrong. First off, hitting someone with a vase CAN kill someone. With that said, mace would not be the preferred choice to stop someone trying to kill you. Why would the officer want to risk further injury? Furthermore, why should he? You ARE wrong. "

 WHAT wrote on May 8, 2008 9:15 am:
" I may not be OPD or close to it but when you get something thrown at you or you are getting attacked dont they teach you to shoot at there knee caps or some place that couldnt kill them? When you get shot in the chest I think that could kill you. I agree with the no namer in some ways but also you should show force but in a better manner. "

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