Officer involved shooting at McCook Walmart

Officer involved shooting at McCook Walmart
MGM Online/ Police Shooting Investigation.
January 19th, 2022 | news release

     At the request of Red Willow County Attorney Paul Wood, the Nebraska State Patrol is investigating an officer involved shooting that was reported at 10:59pm on Monday January 17, 2022.   At that time, the Red Willow County Sheriff’s Office requested help from Nebraska State Patrol in North Platte for an “Officer Down” call.  Troopers responded to the 1900 West B Street area in McCook along with McCook Police and Fire Department.

      According to a news release, the preliminary investigation shows that Sheriff Alan Kotschwar and Chief Deputy Joe Koetter were in the area of the Walmart parking lot searching for an individual threatening to harm himself.  Sheriff Kotschwar and Chief Deputy Koetter made contact with a man standing outside of his vehicle on the south side of the parking lot.  He was identified as 37-year-old Scott Kutnik of Cambridge and later determined to not be connected to the initial call of a man threatening to harm himself.

     As the officers were contacting Kutnik, he allegedly entered his vehicle and struck Chief Deputy Koetter by running over him.   Chief Deputy Koetter discharged his service weapon one time and struck Kutnik.   Kutnik then continued to drive east in the parking lot and over an embankment before coming to a stop.

      First responders on scene began rendering emergency medical aid to Kutnik.  Kutnik and the Chief Deputy Koetter were transported to Community Hospital in McCook.  Kutnik was then transferred by medical helicopter to CHI Health Good Samaritan hospital in Kearney due to life-threatening injuries.  He remains in critical condition.   Chief Deputy Koetter sustained non-life threatening injuries and has been released.

      Kutnik’s family was notified by the Furnas County Sheriff’s Office.

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