Omaha Police on Thursday identified the officers and the suspect involved in a deadly shootout at a gas station a day earlier.
“While ballistic analysis is still pending, preliminary evidence indicates the suspect fired at least 16 rounds at officers and had additional live ammunition on his person,†the OPD update states. “Six OPD officers collectively fired 51 rounds during the two exchanges.â€
OPD also released photos from officers’ body-worn cameras and identified the suspect shot dead as Juan Melgar-Ayala, 28. OPD said he was a convicted felon from El Salvador who was not legally in the U.S.
“Detectives are continuing to investigate how he obtained the handgun used in both violent incidents,†the release states. â€Family members have reported he suffered from mental health–related issues,“
According to a 5 p.m. Thursday update from OPD, Melgar-Ayala had entered the gas station wearing a mask and headed into the bathroom, which had two stalls.
OPD said detectives used license plate reader data and surveillance on Wednesday to identify a suspect vehicle from a shooting earlier that day of a 61-year-old man injured picking up milk and eggs at Phil’s Foodway.
At that shooting, the victim had exited his pickup and went to grab a random shopping cart when Melgar-Ayala got out of his car and fired a handgun at him, shooting him multiple times, the OPD report says. The victim in that shooting remains in the hospital in critical condition but is expected to live.
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Officers shouted multiple commands in both English and Spanish at Melgar-Ayala. He then exited the far stall and immediately fired at officers who had posted themselves near the door to the bathroom, according to the OPD report.
“Officers returned fire and retreated, removing an uninjured bystander from the restroom area. One officer was struck by gunfire and another by shrapnel during this exchange,†the report states.
About a minute and a half later, Melgar-Ayala exited the restroom, firing multiple shots at police, who returned fire, hitting him multiple times, the OPD report states.
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[Editor’s Note: Here is a photo of Juan Melgar-Ayala.]
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