Five days after two Hispanic men were shot and killed by two off-duty Omaha police officers we heard today from Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer for the first time.

[View our full video report above, with just released surveillance video and an officer's call to 9-1-1]

According to the chief, the two men were in the country illegally. The chief also says the County Attorney has ruled the shootings justified and Schmaderer says they were also within department policy.

When I asked if this was a difficult decision the chief told me no.

Joe Jordan, NCN: “Would you consider this a close call?

Chief Todd Schmaderer: “I don't. Once you reevaluate the evidence and you look at the deadly force situation and the deadly threat that these officers were facing. There was a crowd of people, a gun was fired into it in the aftermath of verbal altercations between two groups. The officers were justified in that.”

The dead men identified as 26-year-old Fernando Rodriguez-Juarez and 28-year-old Jonathan Hernandez-Rosales.

The police officers: Captain Jay Levitt who has been with OPD for 25 years and officer Robert Soldo who's been with OPD 8 1/2 years.

The two were working security at the Extasis Night Club near 32nd and L Streets when a disturbance inside spilled outside.

The key moment captured on surveillance video narrated by Omaha police:

Omaha Police Narrator: “You can see Mr. Hernandez-Rosales and Mr. Rodriguez-Juarez running towards the black Jeep Cherokee with Mr. Rodriguez-Juarez getting into the driver's seat. Mr. Hernandez-Rosales getting into the front passenger seat. Mr. Rodriguez-Juarez can be seen raising his right hand with what appears to be a handgun directly in front of the front seat passenger Mr. Hernandez-Rosales. The Jeep is then illuminated by the officer’s flashlight. Captain Levin is seen firing his weapon at the vehicle as officer Soldo crosses in front of the Jeep which accelerates and almost strikes officer Soldo, as it passes by the officers.”

According to Chief Schmaderer, there was no time for talking during this incident, that when one shot was fired from the car officers then responded with 21 shots of their own, 12 from one officer's gun 9 from the other.

Each individual was hit three times.