Omaha police identify officer who fired service weapon at suspect during deadly incident at Florence Tower
The Omaha Police Department identified the officer who fired their service weapon at a suspect during a deadly incident at an apartment building Sunday.Billy Dorrall, 50, is accused of shooting and killing 45-year-old Eric Bechtolt at Florence Tower.Dorrall was reportedly on the sixth floor and armed with multiple firearms, according to investigators.Omaha police said video from Florence Tower shows Dorrall upset and talking with residents. Shortly after, Dorrall engaged in a verbal altercation with Bechtolt. Dorrall went into his apartment, grabbed his firearm and shot Bechtolt multiple times in the hallway.Officers went to the sixth floor from the elevator and the stairwell, Omaha police said.As officers attempted to enter the hallway, Dorrall opened it. In response, an officer, identified as Alex Atkinson, fired their gun, hitting Dorrall in the hip. Dorrall quickly returned fire and fled into the hallway.READ MORE: Video footage reveals series of events in the Florence Tower shootingDorrall continued to shoot several rounds down the hallway and "threatened several residents at gunpoint," according to an OPD press release.Officers entered the hallway and found Bechtolt deceased, authorities said.Omaha police said Dorrall was found farther down the hallway, in possession of two handguns and suffering from a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.Officers issued "multiple verbal commands" and Dorrall complied and was taken into custody without further incident, investigators said.Atkinson, a five-year veteran of the department, completed a voluntary interview, Omaha police said. His account of events from Sunday's incident was "consistent with both the video footage and the physical evidence recovered at the scene."The Douglas County Sheriff's Office has been briefed on the incident, Omaha police said.Dorrall is charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, two counts of use of a weapon to commit a felony and two counts of felon in possession of a firearm. He was denied bond Wednesday.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
