Police officers who opened fire while disrupting a robbery at a fast-food restaurant in Omaha killed a crew member with the TV show "Cops" as well as the suspect, who was armed with a pellet gun that they thought was a real handgun, authorities said Wednesday, according to Reuters.

The suspect fired from the pellet gun before officers returned fire, Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said at a news conference, Reuters reported.

Schmaderer said witnesses and officers thought the robbery suspect's Airsoft handgun looked and sounded real, but discovered later that it fires only plastic pellets, according to Reuters.

The suspect, whom police identified as identified as 32-year-old Cortez Washington, was struck by the officers' gunfire, but fled outside of the restaurant before collapsing, Reuters reported.

Officers continued firing on the suspect as he exited the restaurant, and that was when the "Cops" crew member, 38-year-old Bryce Dion, was also struck, said Schmaderer, according to Reuters.

Dion was wearing a bulletproof vest, but a single bullet that hit his arm "slipped into a gap in the vest" and went into his chest, Schmaderer said, Reuters reported.

"My concern with my officers is that they are taking this very hard," Schmaderer said, according to Reuters."Bryce was their friend."

Schmaderer said video captured by the cameraman who was with Dion shows the chaotic situation in the restaurant, Reuters reported.

Police released still shots from the video showing a hooded and masked person pointing what looks like a gun at police, according to Reuters. Schmaderer said police would not release the full video, but that it will be part of the grand jury investigation into the shooting.

Schmaderer said the incident began when one of the officers, on his way to another reported robbery, called to request backup for the robbery at the Wendy's, Reuters reported. The "Cops" crew members were with two officers who responded to that request.

When police entered the restaurant and confronted the suspect, Dion, who was the sound operator, got separated from the cameraman, Schmaderer said, according to Reuters.

"Cops" is a Fox reality TV show that depicts law enforcement officers in action, Reuters reported. According to its website, the show has been filmed in at least 140 U.S. cities and three foreign countries.