Advertisement

Omaha officer killed on last day before maternity leave

By Danielle Haynes
Omaha police officer Kerrie Orozco died Thursday, one day after being shot in the line of duty. Photo courtesy the Omaha Police Department.
Omaha police officer Kerrie Orozco died Thursday, one day after being shot in the line of duty. Photo courtesy the Omaha Police Department.

OMAHA, May 22 (UPI) -- A 29-year-old Omaha police officer, who was shot hours before she was supposed to go on maternity leave, died Thursday.

Kerrie Orozco, a seven-year veteran, was shot Wednesday while working with a task force to serve a felony arrest warrant related to a previous shooting.

Advertisement

The man suspected of killing Orozco, Marcus Wheeler, 26, also died in the shooting.

Orozco was scheduled to go on maternity leave Thursday after prematurely giving birth to a daughter in February. She had put off her leave until the baby was due to be released from the hospital, police said. She was also stepmother to two children ages 6 and 7.

"Officer Kerrie Orozco gave her life for all of us in her service to the Omaha Police Department," said Omaha Mayor Jean Stohert. "She will be remembered and missed as a loving wife, mother, daughter and dedicated officer."

"[The baby] is set to be released from the hospital tomorrow," Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said Thursday.

Orozco is the first female officer from the Omaha Police Department to die in the line of duty and the first officer to die since September 2003.

Advertisement

Latest Headlines