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3 Hurt in Iowa Post Office Shooting, Suspect Detained

1165 2nd Ave

Published · Updated

Resolved· Facility Cleared

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Summary

  • Three people are injured and a suspect is detained after a shooting at the main USPS post office in Des Moines, Iowa on Thursday morning.
  • Officers initially responded to reports of 10-12 shots fired on the second floor of the facility; two victims were found on the premises, while one arrived at a hospital separately.
  • The suspect was detained close to the post office, near a bridge. Their motive is unknown at this time.
  • The victims' injuries are not considered life-threatening.
  • "I’m in contact with the Department of Public Safety regarding a shooting at the Main Post Office in Des Moines," Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said. "The suspected shooter is in custody and the investigation is ongoing."
  • The building has since been cleared by police. Avoid the area if nearby.

Timeline

Police confirmed there are three victims.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:22
Can you repeat that? Are there any victims still left at the post office that are going to need transport by medics? I don't believe so. If you want to ask, just confirm. Make sure no one else has any victims. I don't believe so. I think we have three that have been confirmed, and they're all at the hospital. Are there any officers at the post office out with a victim? Advise.

Police said they cleared the facility.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:15
Okay, so I think the facility is clear. As far as, where is detectives going to be? Is these witnesses coming forward? Should we take them to staging? We're just out front here. Can you check with the detectives? 724.

Police say the shooting scene is on the second floor. The building is being cleared for more shooting victims.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:30
We're currently in the process of clearing all four floors to make sure there's no more victims. We have a shooting scene on the second floor. Officer Hanselman is staying with it. We have found no additional victims at this time. 500 Charlie. 10-4, thank you. Just for your record, we have a witness being brought to the front, and we'll take them out to where the suspect's at for I-8. Copy. Is there another unit in there? 51 Charlie. Go ahead, sir.

Officers are searching for a witness to speak with.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:27
Copy, staging will be at DMACC Urban Campus in the north lot. 502. 502. All right, about finished with the second floor. Anybody on the second floor that's come across the scene, stay with it, secure it. We're also going to need to secure the south side, stairwell, a bunch of blood. And then any officer outside, start talking to witnesses or employees, see if we can get a good witness.

Police have been clearing the building.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:14
Copy, thanks. C20 and myself, a trooper and 471 have been clearing the bottom floor. 800. 800.

Police said there are two victims at the post office and one at a nearby hospital.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:30
All cars, we're going to turn off the channel marker. Channel marker's off. 502, go ahead. Alright, we got the second four clear. Do you have any more victims at the post office? So far, I think we've just had the two at the post office and one walk into Mercy. Alright, 7, I figured out. FD, pick them up on the west side of 2nd Avenue. Any more victims? Copy, that's where we're standing.

Police were able to detain the suspect at a nearby bridge.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:30
All cars reference our shooting, parole and probation, possibly has a suspect under the bridge by the bike trail, and they're telling us they have a suspect detained. If I have somebody at the break, they can go down there. Information from the victim that got brought up here sounds like the suspect was walking eastbound out of the parking lot, eastbound towards the river. Is there a car that can go down underneath the bike trail bridge and meet up with parole and probation? 607.223, I can
Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:30
500, who all is out with the suspect? Officers out with the suspect underneath the bridge. Unit 91, she's detained. There's plenty of people here. Any patrol officers out with the suspect? 612. 223, I'm out with him. 500. Copy, we're going to try to bring a witness down to where they're at.

The shooter was reported to be on the second flood.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:15
606, I'm with the gentleman right now. He's taking me to the second floor. The individual might be up there. Copy, per 606, possible shooter on the second floor.

A search was underway for the shooter.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:27
I'll be at the dock. 500, let's head as far as cover all the exits, just have everybody join in the front. Have one victim that's coming to the front door on the east side. If we can have a medic unit right off 2nd Avenue on the east side. We're still trying to find the shooter.

In live updates given over radio during the incident, police said that a shooting victim arrived at a nearby hospital.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:12
5230, I'm at Mercy Hospital. I've got a shooting victim that just came in at Mercy. Copy, one shooting victim's arrived at Mercy for 5230.

Police have received a report of 12 shots fired inside the post office.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:24
Reporting a shooting inside the building at 1165 2nd Avenue at the post office. 1165 2nd Avenue at the post office. Retaining multiple reports of shootings inside the post office, somewhere on the second floor. At least 10 to 12 shots fired. 70 Charlie.

A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at 1165 2nd Ave.

Police confirmed there are three victims.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:22
Can you repeat that? Are there any victims still left at the post office that are going to need transport by medics? I don't believe so. If you want to ask, just confirm. Make sure no one else has any victims. I don't believe so. I think we have three that have been confirmed, and they're all at the hospital. Are there any officers at the post office out with a victim? Advise.

Police said they cleared the facility.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:15
Okay, so I think the facility is clear. As far as, where is detectives going to be? Is these witnesses coming forward? Should we take them to staging? We're just out front here. Can you check with the detectives? 724.

Police say the shooting scene is on the second floor. The building is being cleared for more shooting victims.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:30
We're currently in the process of clearing all four floors to make sure there's no more victims. We have a shooting scene on the second floor. Officer Hanselman is staying with it. We have found no additional victims at this time. 500 Charlie. 10-4, thank you. Just for your record, we have a witness being brought to the front, and we'll take them out to where the suspect's at for I-8. Copy. Is there another unit in there? 51 Charlie. Go ahead, sir.

Officers are searching for a witness to speak with.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:27
Copy, staging will be at DMACC Urban Campus in the north lot. 502. 502. All right, about finished with the second floor. Anybody on the second floor that's come across the scene, stay with it, secure it. We're also going to need to secure the south side, stairwell, a bunch of blood. And then any officer outside, start talking to witnesses or employees, see if we can get a good witness.

Police have been clearing the building.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:14
Copy, thanks. C20 and myself, a trooper and 471 have been clearing the bottom floor. 800. 800.

Police said there are two victims at the post office and one at a nearby hospital.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:30
All cars, we're going to turn off the channel marker. Channel marker's off. 502, go ahead. Alright, we got the second four clear. Do you have any more victims at the post office? So far, I think we've just had the two at the post office and one walk into Mercy. Alright, 7, I figured out. FD, pick them up on the west side of 2nd Avenue. Any more victims? Copy, that's where we're standing.

Police were able to detain the suspect at a nearby bridge.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:30
All cars reference our shooting, parole and probation, possibly has a suspect under the bridge by the bike trail, and they're telling us they have a suspect detained. If I have somebody at the break, they can go down there. Information from the victim that got brought up here sounds like the suspect was walking eastbound out of the parking lot, eastbound towards the river. Is there a car that can go down underneath the bike trail bridge and meet up with parole and probation? 607.223, I can
Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:30
500, who all is out with the suspect? Officers out with the suspect underneath the bridge. Unit 91, she's detained. There's plenty of people here. Any patrol officers out with the suspect? 612. 223, I'm out with him. 500. Copy, we're going to try to bring a witness down to where they're at.

The shooter was reported to be on the second flood.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:15
606, I'm with the gentleman right now. He's taking me to the second floor. The individual might be up there. Copy, per 606, possible shooter on the second floor.

A search was underway for the shooter.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:27
I'll be at the dock. 500, let's head as far as cover all the exits, just have everybody join in the front. Have one victim that's coming to the front door on the east side. If we can have a medic unit right off 2nd Avenue on the east side. We're still trying to find the shooter.

In live updates given over radio during the incident, police said that a shooting victim arrived at a nearby hospital.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:12
5230, I'm at Mercy Hospital. I've got a shooting victim that just came in at Mercy. Copy, one shooting victim's arrived at Mercy for 5230.

Police have received a report of 12 shots fired inside the post office.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:24
Reporting a shooting inside the building at 1165 2nd Avenue at the post office. 1165 2nd Avenue at the post office. Retaining multiple reports of shootings inside the post office, somewhere on the second floor. At least 10 to 12 shots fired. 70 Charlie.

A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at 1165 2nd Ave.

Police confirmed there are three victims.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:22
Can you repeat that? Are there any victims still left at the post office that are going to need transport by medics? I don't believe so. If you want to ask, just confirm. Make sure no one else has any victims. I don't believe so. I think we have three that have been confirmed, and they're all at the hospital. Are there any officers at the post office out with a victim? Advise.

Police said they cleared the facility.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:15
Okay, so I think the facility is clear. As far as, where is detectives going to be? Is these witnesses coming forward? Should we take them to staging? We're just out front here. Can you check with the detectives? 724.

Police say the shooting scene is on the second floor. The building is being cleared for more shooting victims.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:30
We're currently in the process of clearing all four floors to make sure there's no more victims. We have a shooting scene on the second floor. Officer Hanselman is staying with it. We have found no additional victims at this time. 500 Charlie. 10-4, thank you. Just for your record, we have a witness being brought to the front, and we'll take them out to where the suspect's at for I-8. Copy. Is there another unit in there? 51 Charlie. Go ahead, sir.

Officers are searching for a witness to speak with.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:27
Copy, staging will be at DMACC Urban Campus in the north lot. 502. 502. All right, about finished with the second floor. Anybody on the second floor that's come across the scene, stay with it, secure it. We're also going to need to secure the south side, stairwell, a bunch of blood. And then any officer outside, start talking to witnesses or employees, see if we can get a good witness.

Police have been clearing the building.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:14
Copy, thanks. C20 and myself, a trooper and 471 have been clearing the bottom floor. 800. 800.

Police said there are two victims at the post office and one at a nearby hospital.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:30
All cars, we're going to turn off the channel marker. Channel marker's off. 502, go ahead. Alright, we got the second four clear. Do you have any more victims at the post office? So far, I think we've just had the two at the post office and one walk into Mercy. Alright, 7, I figured out. FD, pick them up on the west side of 2nd Avenue. Any more victims? Copy, that's where we're standing.

Police were able to detain the suspect at a nearby bridge.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:30
All cars reference our shooting, parole and probation, possibly has a suspect under the bridge by the bike trail, and they're telling us they have a suspect detained. If I have somebody at the break, they can go down there. Information from the victim that got brought up here sounds like the suspect was walking eastbound out of the parking lot, eastbound towards the river. Is there a car that can go down underneath the bike trail bridge and meet up with parole and probation? 607.223, I can
Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:30
500, who all is out with the suspect? Officers out with the suspect underneath the bridge. Unit 91, she's detained. There's plenty of people here. Any patrol officers out with the suspect? 612. 223, I'm out with him. 500. Copy, we're going to try to bring a witness down to where they're at.

The shooter was reported to be on the second flood.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:15
606, I'm with the gentleman right now. He's taking me to the second floor. The individual might be up there. Copy, per 606, possible shooter on the second floor.

A search was underway for the shooter.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:27
I'll be at the dock. 500, let's head as far as cover all the exits, just have everybody join in the front. Have one victim that's coming to the front door on the east side. If we can have a medic unit right off 2nd Avenue on the east side. We're still trying to find the shooter.

In live updates given over radio during the incident, police said that a shooting victim arrived at a nearby hospital.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:12
5230, I'm at Mercy Hospital. I've got a shooting victim that just came in at Mercy. Copy, one shooting victim's arrived at Mercy for 5230.

Police have received a report of 12 shots fired inside the post office.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:24
Reporting a shooting inside the building at 1165 2nd Avenue at the post office. 1165 2nd Avenue at the post office. Retaining multiple reports of shootings inside the post office, somewhere on the second floor. At least 10 to 12 shots fired. 70 Charlie.

A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at 1165 2nd Ave.

Police confirmed there are three victims.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:22
Can you repeat that? Are there any victims still left at the post office that are going to need transport by medics? I don't believe so. If you want to ask, just confirm. Make sure no one else has any victims. I don't believe so. I think we have three that have been confirmed, and they're all at the hospital. Are there any officers at the post office out with a victim? Advise.

Police said they cleared the facility.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:15
Okay, so I think the facility is clear. As far as, where is detectives going to be? Is these witnesses coming forward? Should we take them to staging? We're just out front here. Can you check with the detectives? 724.

Police say the shooting scene is on the second floor. The building is being cleared for more shooting victims.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:30
We're currently in the process of clearing all four floors to make sure there's no more victims. We have a shooting scene on the second floor. Officer Hanselman is staying with it. We have found no additional victims at this time. 500 Charlie. 10-4, thank you. Just for your record, we have a witness being brought to the front, and we'll take them out to where the suspect's at for I-8. Copy. Is there another unit in there? 51 Charlie. Go ahead, sir.

Officers are searching for a witness to speak with.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:27
Copy, staging will be at DMACC Urban Campus in the north lot. 502. 502. All right, about finished with the second floor. Anybody on the second floor that's come across the scene, stay with it, secure it. We're also going to need to secure the south side, stairwell, a bunch of blood. And then any officer outside, start talking to witnesses or employees, see if we can get a good witness.

Police have been clearing the building.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:14
Copy, thanks. C20 and myself, a trooper and 471 have been clearing the bottom floor. 800. 800.

Police said there are two victims at the post office and one at a nearby hospital.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:30
All cars, we're going to turn off the channel marker. Channel marker's off. 502, go ahead. Alright, we got the second four clear. Do you have any more victims at the post office? So far, I think we've just had the two at the post office and one walk into Mercy. Alright, 7, I figured out. FD, pick them up on the west side of 2nd Avenue. Any more victims? Copy, that's where we're standing.

Police were able to detain the suspect at a nearby bridge.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:30
All cars reference our shooting, parole and probation, possibly has a suspect under the bridge by the bike trail, and they're telling us they have a suspect detained. If I have somebody at the break, they can go down there. Information from the victim that got brought up here sounds like the suspect was walking eastbound out of the parking lot, eastbound towards the river. Is there a car that can go down underneath the bike trail bridge and meet up with parole and probation? 607.223, I can
Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:30
500, who all is out with the suspect? Officers out with the suspect underneath the bridge. Unit 91, she's detained. There's plenty of people here. Any patrol officers out with the suspect? 612. 223, I'm out with him. 500. Copy, we're going to try to bring a witness down to where they're at.

The shooter was reported to be on the second flood.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:15
606, I'm with the gentleman right now. He's taking me to the second floor. The individual might be up there. Copy, per 606, possible shooter on the second floor.

A search was underway for the shooter.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:27
I'll be at the dock. 500, let's head as far as cover all the exits, just have everybody join in the front. Have one victim that's coming to the front door on the east side. If we can have a medic unit right off 2nd Avenue on the east side. We're still trying to find the shooter.

In live updates given over radio during the incident, police said that a shooting victim arrived at a nearby hospital.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:12
5230, I'm at Mercy Hospital. I've got a shooting victim that just came in at Mercy. Copy, one shooting victim's arrived at Mercy for 5230.

Police have received a report of 12 shots fired inside the post office.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:24
Reporting a shooting inside the building at 1165 2nd Avenue at the post office. 1165 2nd Avenue at the post office. Retaining multiple reports of shootings inside the post office, somewhere on the second floor. At least 10 to 12 shots fired. 70 Charlie.

A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at 1165 2nd Ave.

Police confirmed there are three victims.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:22
Can you repeat that? Are there any victims still left at the post office that are going to need transport by medics? I don't believe so. If you want to ask, just confirm. Make sure no one else has any victims. I don't believe so. I think we have three that have been confirmed, and they're all at the hospital. Are there any officers at the post office out with a victim? Advise.

Police said they cleared the facility.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:15
Okay, so I think the facility is clear. As far as, where is detectives going to be? Is these witnesses coming forward? Should we take them to staging? We're just out front here. Can you check with the detectives? 724.

Police say the shooting scene is on the second floor. The building is being cleared for more shooting victims.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:30
We're currently in the process of clearing all four floors to make sure there's no more victims. We have a shooting scene on the second floor. Officer Hanselman is staying with it. We have found no additional victims at this time. 500 Charlie. 10-4, thank you. Just for your record, we have a witness being brought to the front, and we'll take them out to where the suspect's at for I-8. Copy. Is there another unit in there? 51 Charlie. Go ahead, sir.

Officers are searching for a witness to speak with.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:27
Copy, staging will be at DMACC Urban Campus in the north lot. 502. 502. All right, about finished with the second floor. Anybody on the second floor that's come across the scene, stay with it, secure it. We're also going to need to secure the south side, stairwell, a bunch of blood. And then any officer outside, start talking to witnesses or employees, see if we can get a good witness.

Police have been clearing the building.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:14
Copy, thanks. C20 and myself, a trooper and 471 have been clearing the bottom floor. 800. 800.

Police said there are two victims at the post office and one at a nearby hospital.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:30
All cars, we're going to turn off the channel marker. Channel marker's off. 502, go ahead. Alright, we got the second four clear. Do you have any more victims at the post office? So far, I think we've just had the two at the post office and one walk into Mercy. Alright, 7, I figured out. FD, pick them up on the west side of 2nd Avenue. Any more victims? Copy, that's where we're standing.

Police were able to detain the suspect at a nearby bridge.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:30
All cars reference our shooting, parole and probation, possibly has a suspect under the bridge by the bike trail, and they're telling us they have a suspect detained. If I have somebody at the break, they can go down there. Information from the victim that got brought up here sounds like the suspect was walking eastbound out of the parking lot, eastbound towards the river. Is there a car that can go down underneath the bike trail bridge and meet up with parole and probation? 607.223, I can
Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:30
500, who all is out with the suspect? Officers out with the suspect underneath the bridge. Unit 91, she's detained. There's plenty of people here. Any patrol officers out with the suspect? 612. 223, I'm out with him. 500. Copy, we're going to try to bring a witness down to where they're at.

The shooter was reported to be on the second flood.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:15
606, I'm with the gentleman right now. He's taking me to the second floor. The individual might be up there. Copy, per 606, possible shooter on the second floor.

A search was underway for the shooter.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:27
I'll be at the dock. 500, let's head as far as cover all the exits, just have everybody join in the front. Have one victim that's coming to the front door on the east side. If we can have a medic unit right off 2nd Avenue on the east side. We're still trying to find the shooter.

In live updates given over radio during the incident, police said that a shooting victim arrived at a nearby hospital.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:12
5230, I'm at Mercy Hospital. I've got a shooting victim that just came in at Mercy. Copy, one shooting victim's arrived at Mercy for 5230.

Police have received a report of 12 shots fired inside the post office.

Des Moines Police Dispatch 1 · 0:24
Reporting a shooting inside the building at 1165 2nd Avenue at the post office. 1165 2nd Avenue at the post office. Retaining multiple reports of shootings inside the post office, somewhere on the second floor. At least 10 to 12 shots fired. 70 Charlie.

A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at 1165 2nd Ave.

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Comments30

ImOnIt_5432110h ago

Wow! It always amazes me how some commentors insist on putting there ignorance on full display.

RedlineGlobal10h ago

Guess someone went POSTAL

hollyairs11h ago

No need for politics. Just pray for this country and the world.

birminghamUser237006700211h ago

this is not about black or white, this is not about politics either. none of you knows what the real intentions were. stop assuming and pay some respect to those who lost lives.

ImOnIt_5432110h ago

Wow! It always amazes me how some commentors insist on putting there ignorance on full display.

RedlineGlobal10h ago

Guess someone went POSTAL

hollyairs11h ago

No need for politics. Just pray for this country and the world.

birminghamUser237006700211h ago

this is not about black or white, this is not about politics either. none of you knows what the real intentions were. stop assuming and pay some respect to those who lost lives.

ImOnIt_5432110h ago

Wow! It always amazes me how some commentors insist on putting there ignorance on full display.

RedlineGlobal10h ago

Guess someone went POSTAL

hollyairs11h ago

No need for politics. Just pray for this country and the world.

birminghamUser237006700211h ago

this is not about black or white, this is not about politics either. none of you knows what the real intentions were. stop assuming and pay some respect to those who lost lives.

ImOnIt_5432110h ago

Wow! It always amazes me how some commentors insist on putting there ignorance on full display.

RedlineGlobal10h ago

Guess someone went POSTAL

hollyairs11h ago

No need for politics. Just pray for this country and the world.

birminghamUser237006700211h ago

this is not about black or white, this is not about politics either. none of you knows what the real intentions were. stop assuming and pay some respect to those who lost lives.

ImOnIt_5432110h ago

Wow! It always amazes me how some commentors insist on putting there ignorance on full display.

RedlineGlobal10h ago

Guess someone went POSTAL

hollyairs11h ago

No need for politics. Just pray for this country and the world.

birminghamUser237006700211h ago

this is not about black or white, this is not about politics either. none of you knows what the real intentions were. stop assuming and pay some respect to those who lost lives.

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