When TikToker Oli (@oliolioxinnfree) was eight years old, her dad died on the reality TV show, Cops, while robbing a Wendy’s. His name was Cortez Washington, and he was 32 years old at the time.
The incident happened in Omaha, Nebraska, on August 26, 2014. Cameras were rolling as police responded, gunfire erupted, and chaos unfolded.
She doesn’t know why her dad decided to rob Wendy’s of all places. The police showed up while filming Cops. He wasn’t the only life lost that day.
A member of the sound crew was caught in the crossfire. The police tried to shoot her dad about 30 times. He exchanged fire as well, but the weapon he was carrying turned out to be a pellet gun.
It looked and sounded so real that officers were fooled. After managing to escape from the store and collapsing in the parking lot, Oli’s dad was taken to the hospital and died there.
Oli didn’t learn about her father’s death right away. She found out about everything a couple of days later. The footage of the shootout was released, and all her classmates at school had seen it. She had to do online school throughout middle school to escape the constant reminders.
Cops started in 1989 on Fox. The show has been filmed in at least 140 cities in the United States and three foreign countries. As of late 2025, there are 37 seasons. It is one of the longest-running shows in the U.S.
In the comments section, many TikTok users described their own experiences with seeing their lost loved ones televised in public through documentaries or footage they never consented to be a part of.
“My dad was incarcerated somewhere in Latin America, but I didn’t know where. Last year in history class, we were watching a documentary about Mexico’s worst prison. He comes up on screen, full name and everything, sobbing about his family. It was the first time I’d seen him in months, and messed me up so bad I had to go to the counselor’s,” commented one user.
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“My dad was murdered, and a few years later, we had an assembly at school about gang violence. They showed CCTV footage and interviews with me crying that I had never seen. The entire school turned around to look at me. I’m so sorry that happened to you, but thank you for sharing. I feel seen,” shared another.
“The man who passed away on the crew was my uncle, Bryce Dion. He was only 38. He was caught in the crossfire when the police started shooting. The bullet missed his vest and hit him under his arm,” revealed a third.
Behind every viral clip or reality TV episode are real people who have to live with the aftermath long after the cameras stop rolling.
By Emily Chan
Emily Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in... More about Emily Chan
