UPDATE 12/4/2025:

The Omaha Police Department’s Officer-Involved Investigations Team has made significant progress in the investigation of Wednesday afternoon’s officer-involved incident.

Detectives with the OPD Assault Unit have not identified a motive or any connection between the suspect, Juan Melgar-Ayala, 28, and the victim from the Phil’s Foodway shooting, Michael Kasper, 61. The investigation shows that Mr. Kasper had arrived at his neighborhood grocer, Phil’s Foodway, to pick up milk and eggs. Shortly after exiting his pickup and attempting to grab a random shopping cart, Mr. Melgar-Ayala exited his own vehicle and began firing a handgun at Mr. Kasper, striking him multiple times. He then got back into his car and drove away. Investigators recovered 15 casings from the parking lot. Mr. Kasper remains hospitalized in serious condition but is expected to survive. Additional interviews and investigative steps remain ongoing.

As detectives from the Assault Unit and Gang Unit conducted follow-up on the earlier shooting, they located Mr. Melgar-Ayala’s vehicle with support from the Investigative Analysis Unit and Real-Time Operations Center, using license plate reader (LPR) data and physical surveillance. An LPR alert in South Omaha prompted detectives to saturate the area, where they found the vehicle near S. 36th and Q Streets. Surveillance of the vehicle led them to the QuikTrip at S. 32nd and L Streets. They saw a man matching Mr. Melgar-Ayala’s description from the earlier shooting as he got out of the vehicle, entered the store, and immediately went into the men’s restroom consisting of two enclosed stalls while wearing a facemask.

Detectives requested additional officers before making contact. Once officers from the Assault Unit, Gang Unit, and Uniform Patrol arrived, they approached the restroom and attempted to make contact with Mr. Melgar-Ayala, who was in the far stall. Multiple loud verbal commands calling the suspect by name were made by officers to come out. Body-worn camera footage shows Mr. Melgar-Ayala exit the stall and immediately begins firing multiple shots at officers positioned near the restroom entry. 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.

Officers then positioned themselves on both sides of the restroom doorway, using cover and ballistic shields. A “help an officer” call was declared at 2:24 p.m., and officers requested a drone, breaching tools, and additional resources as the situation transitioned to a barricaded-suspect scenario. Officers gave repeated commands in both English and Spanish for Mr. Melgar-Ayala to disarm himself and exit the restroom.

Approximately one minute and forty seconds after the initial gunfire, Mr. Melgar-Ayala exited the restroom and again fired multiple rounds toward officers. Officers returned fire, striking him multiple times. He collapsed outside the restroom and officers immediately provided life-saving measures. Mr. Melgar-Ayala died at the scene. A second officer was hit by gunfire during this exchange. 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. Six OPD officers collectively fired 51 rounds during the two exchanges.

Background information on the suspect revealed that Mr. Melgar-Ayala was from El Salvador, was not a legal U.S. resident, and was a convicted felon. Detectives are continuing to investigate how he obtained the handgun used in both violent incidents. Family members have reported he suffered from mental health–related issues.

“The Omaha Police Department is a professional agency committed to confronting the most dangerous threats to our community. Our citizens can take comfort in knowing that OPD officers willingly put themselves in harm’s way to save lives. (1/2)

I am proud of the men and women of the Omaha Police Department, and I am thankful that our injured officers and citizen are expected to recover.” — Chief Todd Schmaderer

The six involved officers, assignments, years of service:

Sergeant Jonathon Holtrop, Uniform Patrol Bureau, 17 years

Sergeant Emilio Luna, Gang Unit, 11 years, sustained a gunshot wound to his foot

Detective Brock Rengo, Assault Unit, 8 years, sustained a grazing gunshot wound to his leg

Detective Jordan Brandt, Gang Unit, 15 years, sustained a gunshot wound to his leg

Detective Christopher Brown, Gang Unit, 19 years, sustained a shrapnel injury to his foot

Detective Kyle Graber, Gang Unit, 11 years

Photos of the involved officers and still shots from the QuikTrip incident will be sent via email to the media. They can also be found on our department social media.

Pursuant to Nebraska Revised Statute 29-1401, this case will be presented to a grand jury once the investigation is complete. The law requires a grand jury to be summoned when a person dies while in the custody of, or while being apprehended by law enforcement.

The Omaha Police Department will adhere to the grand jury process outlined in Nebraska Revised Statute 29-1407.01 with regard to the release of any evidentiary exhibits to include Body Worn Camera footage and transcripts from a returned "no true bill" grand jury proceeding. Per the state statute found in subsection (C), a copy of the exhibits and transcript "shall be available for public review upon written request to the clerk of the district court". (2/2)

Please, pray for the officers recovery🙏🏻

Omaha Police Department