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School community mourns loss of special education teacher who police say was killed by husband
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School community mourns loss of special education teacher who police say was killed by husband

CHALCO, Neb. (WOW/Gray News ) – A Nebraska school community is mourning the loss of a special education teacher who was killed after a domestic violence incident ended in a shootout, according to police.

Sarpy County Sheriff Jeff Davis said deputies found 45-year-old Rebecca Geiger dead in her Chalco Hills home after shots were fired near South 143rd Street and Meadows Parkway. Monday around 3 am.

Officials said Geiger’s 19-year-old daughter called 911 and told operators that her father, Rory Geiger, 44, shot her mother before pointing the gun towards her.

Rory Geiger then turned his attention to deputies, though Davis said it was someone inside the home who fired the first shot.

“There were gunshots initiated by a subject inside the house, through the glass window. One of our officers returned fire,” the sheriff said in an update Monday.

Deputies then entered the home, where they found Rory Geiger dead from a gunshot wound.

Lifesaving measures were taken but proved unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said.

Authorities said they had been to the home about a month earlier for an incident and were told not to return.

“There was an alert on the house because of a response they received at the time,” Davis said. “He was at home and I followed, for mental health issues. The next day, that individual told us, “Be careful, you shouldn’t come back here.”

Five deputies involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave, officials said. None of the deputies were injured.

Investigators are looking at body cameras worn by deputies, as well as cameras inside and outside the home. They said they are not yet sure if Rory Geiger’s fatal injuries were self-inflicted or from a shot fired by a Sarpy County deputy.

“It looks like at this point, whether he took his own life or whether he was shot by one of our people, they certainly responded and went in probably saved both girls’ lives,” Davis said.

Deputies allegedly found several guns in the home when they searched.

“A VERY KIND TEACHER”

Rebecca Geiger was a special education teacher who had just started her 10th year at Westside High School.

“She was just a very good teacher,” with Elizabeth Power Westside Community Schools said. “She was so good at helping her students feel very seen and very loved and like they were here at Westside High School, which is such an important thing for any student, especially her students.”

The district established its crisis response team. Counselors will be available all week.