We’re hearing from the wife of a man shot by Omaha Police in a story you’ll only see on KETV NewsWatch 7. James Wilson, 42, was released from the hospital and booked on charges including attempted second-degree murder and terroristic threats.His wife says he was driving for DoorDash the night of the shootout.Police first responded to an “armed disturbance” near 72nd and Corby streets.The homeowner there told KETV NewsWatch 7 Wilson pulled a gun on him over a $5 tip and tried to fight him.Police say they caught up with Wilson moments later outside his home near 60th and Q.The bodycam image they provided Wednesday is blurry, but they say it shows Wilson holding a gun.Police say he fired every round in it. OPD says Officer Tamara Phillips returned fire, hitting him in the legs.She’s OK and still on paid leave.KETV NewsWatch 7 talked with Wilson’s wife about his mental health.Flowers sit on Amber Wilson’s kitchen table, sent by friends and family.The window above is shattered from a gunshot. And outside cars are riddled with bullet holes.Right now, she’s just trying to make sense of what happened in her driveway last Thursday.“It felt like a nightmare,” Wilson said. Omaha police shot Wilson’s husband of six years, James, during what they call an exchange of gunfire.She says to understand how it got to this point, it’s important to look at the last year.“The last, I’d say, a year or so has been very rough on us. Money, finances, things like that have just been a struggle,” Wilson said.Wilson says James needed mental health help, but she says he was stubborn and didn’t have health insurance.And she has several health problems that cost them a lot.“It wasn’t in our budget for him. It was feed your kids, have a roof over your head or take care of yourself,” Wilson said.Both had jobs and he was DoorDashing to make extra money.That’s what he was doing Thursday. KETV asked if she noticed anything different that night:“He was complaining people don’t tip what they should. And we’re going out there to put miles on our cars,” Wilson said.She believes a $5 tip, their financial troubles and his mental health struggles finally made him snap.“And there’s going to be a straw that breaks the camel’s back. And evidently, that was it,” Wilson said.After he left for work that night, everyone was asleep in the house except her daughter in the kitchen.“A shot came through the dining room. And that’s when we found out that he was exchanging gunfire in the driveway with the Omaha police,” Wilson said.They looked out the window to see him in a pool of blood after being shot in both legs.She says that moment and everything that led up to it is so out of character for James.“It’s just it’s appalling to me that something got so out of hand that that’s where it went to. Especially if it’s over DoorDash,” Wilson said.Wilson says James had a concealed carry and carried a gun for protection.Police confirmed he has a CCW.His car is still in the same spot with a U.S. Concealed Carry Association sticker on it.Wilson has empathy for everyone involved. She wants people to remember her husband is human, and she says mental health matters.“He made some very bad decisions that are affecting a lot of people. But I hope that people forgive him,” Wilson said.Wilson says no matter what happens with their relationship now, she will support him.Just a reminder, it’s ok, not to be ok. If you or a loved one needs help, call, or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.
We’re hearing from the wife of a man shot by Omaha Police in a story you’ll only see on KETV NewsWatch 7.
James Wilson, 42, was released from the hospital and booked on charges including attempted second-degree murder and terroristic threats.
His wife says he was driving for DoorDash the night of the shootout.
Police first responded to an “armed disturbance” near 72nd and Corby streets.
The homeowner there told KETV NewsWatch 7 Wilson pulled a gun on him over a $5 tip and tried to fight him.
Police say they caught up with Wilson moments later outside his home near 60th and Q.
The bodycam image they provided Wednesday is blurry, but they say it shows Wilson holding a gun.
Police say he fired every round in it. OPD says Officer Tamara Phillips returned fire, hitting him in the legs.
She’s OK and still on paid leave.
KETV NewsWatch 7 talked with Wilson’s wife about his mental health.
Flowers sit on Amber Wilson’s kitchen table, sent by friends and family.
The window above is shattered from a gunshot. And outside cars are riddled with bullet holes.
Right now, she’s just trying to make sense of what happened in her driveway last Thursday.
“It felt like a nightmare,” Wilson said.
Omaha police shot Wilson’s husband of six years, James, during what they call an exchange of gunfire.
She says to understand how it got to this point, it’s important to look at the last year.
“The last, I’d say, a year or so has been very rough on us. Money, finances, things like that have just been a struggle,” Wilson said.
Wilson says James needed mental health help, but she says he was stubborn and didn’t have health insurance.
And she has several health problems that cost them a lot.
“It wasn’t in our budget for him. It was feed your kids, have a roof over your head or take care of yourself,” Wilson said.
Both had jobs and he was DoorDashing to make extra money.
That’s what he was doing Thursday. KETV asked if she noticed anything different that night:
“He was complaining people don’t tip what they should. And we’re going out there to put miles on our cars,” Wilson said.
She believes a $5 tip, their financial troubles and his mental health struggles finally made him snap.
“And there’s going to be a straw that breaks the camel’s back. And evidently, that was it,” Wilson said.
After he left for work that night, everyone was asleep in the house except her daughter in the kitchen.
“A shot came through the dining room. And that’s when we found out that he was exchanging gunfire in the driveway with the Omaha police,” Wilson said.
They looked out the window to see him in a pool of blood after being shot in both legs.
She says that moment and everything that led up to it is so out of character for James.
“It’s just it’s appalling to me that something got so out of hand that that’s where it went to. Especially if it’s over DoorDash,” Wilson said.
Wilson says James had a concealed carry and carried a gun for protection.
Police confirmed he has a CCW.
His car is still in the same spot with a U.S. Concealed Carry Association sticker on it.
Wilson has empathy for everyone involved. She wants people to remember her husband is human, and she says mental health matters.
“He made some very bad decisions that are affecting a lot of people. But I hope that people forgive him,” Wilson said.
Wilson says no matter what happens with their relationship now, she will support him.
Just a reminder, it’s ok, not to be ok. If you or a loved one needs help, call, or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.
Read More: ‘It felt like a nightmare’: Wife of man in shootout with OPD says he has mental health
