No charges filed against Nebraska cop who killed man while serving sentence without knocking

OMAHA, Neb. — A Nebraska prosecutor said he will not pursue criminal charges against an Omaha police officer who fatally shot an unarmed man during a no-knock search.

On Aug. 28, Omaha Police Officer Adam Vail was part of a SWAT team executing a search warrant during a narcotics and firearms investigation when he fired a single shot that killed 37-year-old Cameron Ford.

Ford was not holding a gun, but Vail did not see Ford’s hands and fired when Ford lunged at him, Douglas County Prosecutor Don Kleine said during a news conference Thursday. Vail shot Ford “out of fear for his life and the lives of his fellow officers,” Kleine said.

Police said a loaded gun and drugs were found inside the home. Body camera footage was obscured by Vail’s ballistic shield, police said.

Ford’s family and other supporters gathered Tuesday outside Omaha Police Department headquarters to call on authorities to hold Vail accountable and fire him. Relatives said Ford was the father of two daughters.

Although Kleine is not filing charges, the case must go to a jury trial under Nebraska law.