DES MOINES, IA - During the early morning hours on Tuesday, July 30th, a Des Moines police officer was shot by friendly fire and an armed suspect is dead after an exchange of gunfire on the city's south side.
According to KCCI, officers responded to a home in the 5800 block of SE 35th Circle around 3:30 a.m. to investigate a report of a person violating a protective order. A press release from the Des Moines Police Department (DMPD) said, "Responding officers saw the suspect's vehicle driving near the scene and attempted to stop it. The suspect fled from the officers, beginning a pursuit."
That pursuit ended about one mile away, in the 4300 block of East Army Post Road, when the suspect's vehicle left the roadway to the south and got tied up in vegetation. DMPD spokesperson Sgt. Paul Parizek said that officers' body camera footage shows the suspect attempting to flee from the officers on foot before pulling out a handgun.
Parizek said, "He initially points it towards his own head ... He transitions from that to a two-fisted pointing right at the officers. Both officers did fire their weapons and one of the officers was hit and the suspect was also hit." The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. The officer that was hit by friendly fire in the back shoulder through a gap in his body armor by the other officer.
Parizek said that the officer was in serious but stable condition at a Des Moines Hospital. Prior to learning that the officer was in stable condition, Parizek said, "Pretty serious condition. The hospital is working on him doing everything they can right now. Right now, he's probably still in critical condition we're just hoping and praying for the best."
As of this writing, authorities have not yet released the names of the people involved, but said they believe the suspect lived in Nebraska and had a previous relationship with the person who initiallycalled 911. Parizek said, "We know that the car he was driving was stolen from Council Bluffs several days ago and the license plates on it were stolen, locally here, I believe, yesterday. So, that indicates quite a bit of premeditation ... [It's a] very frightening set of circumstances."
He added, "There's some frightening pieces to that. It looks like he lives in Nebraska and may have had a relationship with the victim some time back. She hadn't heard from him in a very long time. He showed up on her doorstep Friday."
The injured officer is 37-years-old and has been with DMPD for four years. Parizek said of the officer's shot hitting another, "It doesn't change what those officers experienced in that moment — what threat was against them, and what they through and felt. Their courage is still commendable." The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation will handle the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.
According to KCCI, officers responded to a home in the 5800 block of SE 35th Circle around 3:30 a.m. to investigate a report of a person violating a protective order. A press release from the Des Moines Police Department (DMPD) said, "Responding officers saw the suspect's vehicle driving near the scene and attempted to stop it. The suspect fled from the officers, beginning a pursuit."
That pursuit ended about one mile away, in the 4300 block of East Army Post Road, when the suspect's vehicle left the roadway to the south and got tied up in vegetation. DMPD spokesperson Sgt. Paul Parizek said that officers' body camera footage shows the suspect attempting to flee from the officers on foot before pulling out a handgun.
Parizek said, "He initially points it towards his own head ... He transitions from that to a two-fisted pointing right at the officers. Both officers did fire their weapons and one of the officers was hit and the suspect was also hit." The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. The officer that was hit by friendly fire in the back shoulder through a gap in his body armor by the other officer.
Parizek said that the officer was in serious but stable condition at a Des Moines Hospital. Prior to learning that the officer was in stable condition, Parizek said, "Pretty serious condition. The hospital is working on him doing everything they can right now. Right now, he's probably still in critical condition we're just hoping and praying for the best."
As of this writing, authorities have not yet released the names of the people involved, but said they believe the suspect lived in Nebraska and had a previous relationship with the person who initiallycalled 911. Parizek said, "We know that the car he was driving was stolen from Council Bluffs several days ago and the license plates on it were stolen, locally here, I believe, yesterday. So, that indicates quite a bit of premeditation ... [It's a] very frightening set of circumstances."
He added, "There's some frightening pieces to that. It looks like he lives in Nebraska and may have had a relationship with the victim some time back. She hadn't heard from him in a very long time. He showed up on her doorstep Friday."
The injured officer is 37-years-old and has been with DMPD for four years. Parizek said of the officer's shot hitting another, "It doesn't change what those officers experienced in that moment — what threat was against them, and what they through and felt. Their courage is still commendable." The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation will handle the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.
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