The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating a homicide in rural Polk County that led to a pursuit and a trooper-involved shooting near David City Friday morning. State Patrol spokesman Cody Thomas says law enforcement received a 911 call reporting a shooting at a residence near Duncan. Responding officers found a man dead at the home and quickly identified a suspect.
The Butler County sheriff later located the suspect’s vehicle in the area, but no one was inside. Thomas says the sheriff then heard gunfire coming from an unknown direction and moved to a safe location. The suspect returned to the vehicle and fled, prompting a pursuit involving Nebraska State Patrol troopers in northern Butler County.
Thomas says the pursuit ended when the vehicle pulled into a residential driveway northeast of David City. Thomas says the suspect fired shots again, and two troopers returned fire, striking the suspect. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.
A rifle was recovered and Thomas says no law enforcement officers were injured. The identities of the homicide victim and the suspect have not been released pending notification of their families. At the request of the county attorney, the Nebraska State Patrol’s Special Investigations Unit and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the trooper-involved shooting.
The State Patrol’s Criminal Investigations Division is investigating the homicide near Duncan. The two troopers who fired their weapons have been placed on paid administrative leave, in accordance with State Patrol policy.
Nebraska law requires a grand jury investigation into deaths that occur in custody or during a law enforcement encounter.