No charges for officer who killed a man while serving a no-knock warrant

OMAHA, Nebraska — A Nebraska prosecutor says he will not file criminal charges against an Omaha police officer who fatally shot an unarmed man while executing a search warrant without knocking.

Omaha Police Officer Adam Vail, part of a SWAT team executing a search warrant during a drug and gun investigation on August 28, fired the single shot that killed 37-year-old Cameron Ford.

Ford was not holding a weapon, but Vail could not see Ford’s hands and fired as Ford charged toward him, Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said at a news conference Thursday. Vail shot Ford “out of fear for his life and the lives of his fellow officers,” Kleine said.

A loaded gun and drugs were found in the home, police said. Body camera footage was obscured by Vail’s ballistic shield, police said.

Ford’s family and other supporters gathered outside the Omaha police station Tuesday to urge authorities to hold Vail accountable and fire him. Family members said Ford was the father of two daughters.

Although Kleine is not filing charges, a grand jury must still hear the case, as required under Nebraska law.