Lincoln Police Investigate Officer-Involved Shooting | 2505 Fairfield
Published on November 21, 2023
The Lincoln Police Department (LPD) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred outside a local motel.
On Tuesday, November 21, 2023, around 12:20 p.m., an LPD officer attempted to contact the driver of an orange Jeep who was wanted on a federal extradition warrant out of Council Bluffs, Iowa, for a probation violation for possession of a weapon. The suspect pulled into the Microtel at 2505 Fairfield Street. The officer pulled into the parking lot behind the vehicle and walked up to the driver’s side window.
The suspect put his vehicle in reverse and rammed into the police cruiser. He then put the vehicle into drive and accelerated forward toward the officer. The suspect reversed his vehicle into the cruiser a second time and then accelerated forward, coming to a rest near the building. During the exchange, the officer fired at the vehicle with his service weapon, striking the suspect.
During the incident, a 39-year-old female passenger got out of the vehicle. During the second forward acceleration, the driver of the vehicle ran over that female passenger. She had to be extricated from underneath the Jeep by emergency personnel. She was taken to a local hospital by Lincoln Fire & Rescue (LFR) with serious but not life-threatening injuries.
The male driver has been identified as 35-year-old Garrett Hanika. He was taken to the hospital by LFR to be treated for minor injuries. He has since been released and was lodged in the Lancaster County Jail on the federal warrant and charges of 1st degree assault, attempted 1st degree assault on an officer, use of a deadly weapon and resisting arrest with a deadly weapon.
The officer who shot the suspect was not injured and has been put on paid administrative leave which is standard procedure after an officer-involved shooting. The name of the officer will be released at a later date.
Crime scene investigators continue to review video evidence and interview witnesses. Those with information can call our non-emergency number at 402-441-6000 or if you would like to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 402-475-3600.