OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Omaha Police say a Westroads Mall shoplifting call escalated into an armed standoff in a North Omaha neighborhood Thursday night, triggering emergency phone alerts and a heavy law enforcement response.
Sgt. Devin Washington said officers were called to the mall just before 7 p.m. for a shoplifting complaint. They located a vehicle of interest and tried to stop it, but the driver took off.
The man was seen with a gun, and at one point pointed the gun at an officer. We believe there are two innocent people in the home the suspect entered.
— Omaha Police Dept (@OmahaPolice) August 14, 2026
An OPD helicopter followed the vehicle to the area of 39th and Fort streets, where Washington said a lone man got out of the car and went into a nearby home. He said an officer saw the man armed with a gun, and that the suspect also pointed the firearm at an officer…