Two Omaha teens arrested after shootout with family of civilians, police chase

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Two teenagers are behind bars after police say a vandalism incident turned violent in the Omaha area last week.

Jamarion Carter, 19, made his first court appearance Wednesday, where he was formally charged with unlawful use of a firearm, criminal use of a firearm, evading arrest and theft. The 16-year-old boy was also charged with possession of a firearm by a minor and three other offenses.

On the night of Friday, Oct. 25, a woman told police that she and her husband were loading their three young children into their car as they prepared to leave their home near 28th Avenue and Fort Street. While they were doing so, they noticed two teenagers trying to steal their neighbor’s political campaign posters from their front lawn, which led to a verbal confrontation with the teenagers.

The family didn’t react at the time and drove off, but they soon became concerned that they hadn’t locked the front door, so they returned home to find two teenagers in front of their house.

That’s when the suspects opened fire on the family’s car, prompting the woman to fire back with a concealed handgun, according to court documents.

Police responded after receiving reports of 20 shots fired using ShotSpotter technology. The woman gave police a description of the teenagers and told them she feared her family would be killed if she didn’t do anything to protect herself. She says she stopped shooting when the suspects stopped shooting at them.

Court documents do not indicate any injuries to either party involved in the incident, but two neighbors said

A short time later, officers patrolling the area of 27th Street and Allison Avenue spotted the suspect vehicle — a 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe that had been reported stolen — and began a pursuit that reached speeds in excess of 90 mph through residential areas. Police say the suspects were driving on the wrong side of the road, weaving in and out of traffic and nearly hitting a bicyclist.

Finally, a police helicopter helped track the vehicle to a home near 45th and Janes Street, where the homeowners and their young children were.

The family left the house and police entered to begin a search, where they found two teenagers hiding in the attic. The owner of the house told the police that the suspects are her nephews and are not welcome in her house. Officers said they found evidence of forced entry into the home, but were unable to find a firearm during the search.

Carter was taken into custody and booked into the Douglas County Correctional Facility, while the 16-year-old is being held at the Douglas County Youth Center.