A ‘Cops’ crew member was shot and killed while filming an Armed Robbery at a Wendy’s Restaurant.
According to reports, 38 year old crew member for the Spike TV series, Cops, was shot and killed while filming a robbery at a Wendy’s in Omaha, Nebraska.
The Los Angeles Times reports that Bryce Dion was struck by a bullet during a shootout between three Omaha police officers and the 32-year old suspect who was allegedly robbing the fast food restaurant.
Dion was wearing a bulletproof vest, he was hit by a stray bullet. The suspect, 32-year old Cortez Washington, was also killed as both individuals were pronounced dead at the hospital.
Police said the suspect, Cortez Washington, 32, fired at officers with an airsoft pistol, which looks and sounds like a real handgun but does not fire lethal rounds. Washington was killed after the three responding officers returned fired, police said.
Dion was inside a vestibule at the restaurant when one of the police rounds struck him beneath his armpit in an area unprotected by his vest. [Los Angeles Times]
Bryce Dion’s death will now raise questions about crew members’ safety on TV shows and movies. Since ‘Cops‘ is a reality show Dion, may not have had proper benefits typically seen with union members. According to the Los Angeles Times, an official with IATSE, the labor union for crew members said the union did not have a contract to cover crew members on “Cops” and declined to comment on the accident.
Following the death of camera assistant, Sarah Jones during production of the movie “Midnight Rider” there has been immense pressure on production company’s to improve and increase workplace safety. It is a tragedy to see innocent people lose their lives for the sake of ratings and viewers.
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