‘Incredibly proud of the officers’: Papillion, La Vista police chiefs detail Friday’s deadly gunfire

PAPILLION, Neb. —

The chiefs of police for La Vista and Papillion detailed what led up to the gunfire Friday night in a Home Depot parking lot.

In an exclusive interview, officials told KETV that four law enforcement officials are on administrative leave, including two Papillion officers, one La Vista officer and one Sarpy County deputy.

MORE COVERAGE: Papillion police: suspect, officers exchanged gunfire during pursuit that ended at Home Depot

Papillion police Chief Chris Whitted told KETV that the suspect, James Bolter III, was waiting outside Ming’s restaurant for certain people to come out.

When they did, police said Bolter fired at them. Someone called 911 and investigators spotted Bolter’s vehicle along 84th Street.

A slow-speed pursuit began, which the chiefs said was highly concerning, and it eventually ended at a nearby Home Depot.

Investigators said they used a tactical maneuver to stop the suspect.

They said Bolter pointed an AR-15 rifle at them. Officers later found a shell casing from that rifle, indicating the suspect fired off at least one shot.

Law enforcement fired at Bolter, hitting him. Bolter later died at the hospital.

READ MORE: Papillion Police give update on chase, officer-involved shooting

“I am incredibly proud of the officers that responded in this situation, his, as well as Sarpy’s. As well as to utilize that technique to end this pursuit in the safest place that we could, and again I can’t say how proud I am with the officers and the actions that they took, they protected civilian life as well as their own life,” Whitted said.

Whitted added his department works with La Vista and the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office closely.

He said it’s miraculous no one else was hurt or killed.

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