Grand jury finds no criminal conduct in Omaha police shooting of unarmed Cameron Ford

A grand jury has found no criminal conduct in the fatal police shooting of Cameron Ford in August, Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine announced Thursday.

Ford, 37, was shot and killed by Officer Adam Vail, a member of the Omaha Police Department's SWAT team, during the execution of a no-knock search warrant at Ford's home on Aug. 28. Ford was unarmed.

Kleine announced Sept. 5 that his office would not press charges against Vail and said Vail had a reasonable belief that his safety was at risk. Under Nebraska law, deadly force is justified if a "reasonable ground" existed for the person to believe that they were at risk of death or serious bodily harm, even if they were mistaken about the extent of the danger.

After Kleine's decision not to charge Vail, North Omaha leaders and members of Ford's family called for a special prosecutor to conduct an independent investigation into Ford's death.

On Sept. 25, Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer announced he was recommending Vail be terminated for violating the department's polices in the shooting death of Ford.

Schmaderer said he based his recommendation on the findings of a "comprehensive and thorough" internal affairs investigation, which is separate from a criminal investigation and a grand jury investigation. Schmaderer said in a statement that he did not see or uncover any criminal intent by Vail.

The grand jury, which met from Tuesday through Thursday, also found no criminal conduct and submitted a "no true bill" in the cases of 12 other death cases, according to a press release.

Under state law, a grand jury convenes to view the facts and nature of someone who has died in jail, while in police custody or presence or when police are trying to apprehend the person.

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