LSO: Officer-involved shooting information
LINCOLN, Neb. -- Authorities released new information on Saturday regarding an officer-involved shooting on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, Investigators with the Lincoln Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force were following up on information received from a Crime stoppers report.
The Task force was comprised of officers from the Lincoln Police Department, the Nebraska State Patrol and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office. Dressed in plain clothes and driving unmarked vehicles, the members displayed their badges and wore ballistic vests clearly identifying them as law enforcement officers.
Around 2:45 p.m. officers went to 1905 G Street, where they say they saw a Chrysler 300 with a male driver and a female passenger pull into the parking lot. The vehicle had also been mentioned in previous drug enforcement investigations.
As LPD and NSP investigators approached the driver’s side of the vehicle, other investigators spoke with the 21-year-old female passenger, according to the investigation.
Authorities say that when they made contact with the driver, 27-year-old German Pedraza, they saw him attempting to pull out a pistol. As loud verbal commands were given to drop the gun and a struggle followed to prevent Pedraza from using the gun, the NSP Investigator fired one round from his duty pistol, striking Pedraza in the neck.
Officers immediately began to administer medical aid and called Lincoln Fire and Rescue. Medical care was taken over by LFR and Pedraza was transported to an area hospital, where he underwent surgery and is now in critical condition.
The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the shooting with the assistance of the Lincoln Police Department at the State Patrol Colonel John Bolduc's request. The Sheriff’s Office and the Police Department have specially trained officers who make up an Officer Involved Shooting (OIS) team.
The joint LPD-LSO Crime Scene Investigations (CSI) conducted the investigation of the scene which included serving a search warrant, using a drone and other forensic procedures to gather evidence at the scene. Interviews were conducted with the Trooper involved as well as the other officers and the passenger who was on scene. The 21-year-old passenger was interviewed and released.
A loaded pistol was recovered from the Chrysler 300 as well as various quantities of suspected marijuana and methamphetamine. The drugs were recovered in agreement with the service of the search warrant.
The Nebraska State Patrol is conducting a separate internal investigation to ensure their policy and procedures were being followed. As normal protocol, the Trooper has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an Internal Investigation.