Family struggles to understand why Neb. man fatally wounded by police fired at officers

Neb. gunman’s family puzzled by hospital shootout

OMAHA, Neb. — A friend of a man fatally shot by police at an Omaha hospital says his family believes he was distraught about his marital problems and didn’t want to live anymore.

Omaha attorney James Martin Davis says he’s spoken with Jeff Layten’s family members several times since the shooting Wednesday morning at Creighton University Medical Center, although he’s not been hired to represent them.

Davis says the family told him Layten went to the hospital so his organs could be donated after his suicide.

Police have said Layten was shot several times after he pulled a handgun on officers who’d confronted him. He died a few hours later.

Davis and others have called Layten a good father and businessman and say they’re shocked by his death.

Davis says Layten’s funeral will be Monday.