Des Moines officer shot by friendly fire, remains in serious but stable condition

José Mendiola, Des Moines Register
Updated ·2 min read

A Des Moines police officer was shot by friendly fire and a suspect was killed Tuesday morning during a domestic dispute investigation.

Des Moines Police Department officers were dispatched to the 5800 block of Southeast 35th Circle for a report regarding a person violating a protective order around 3:30 a.m., Sgt. Paul Parizek said in a news release.

Police spotted the suspect's vehicle driving near the scene and attempted to stop the driver around 3:50 a.m., the news release said. The suspect fled from police.

A few moments later, the suspect fled westbound on East Army Post Road, left the roadway to the south and came to a stop, the news release said. Officers reported shots had been fired and a Des Moines officer was shot.

Des Moines officer shot by friendly fire responding to call

The officer was shot by friendly fire in the back of his shoulder in a gap of his body armor, Parizek said in a news conference. The officer was in serious but stable condition as of 11 a.m.

The officer who was shot is a 37-year-old man with four years of service with the Des Moines Police Department, Parizek said. He was transported to a local hospital by the Des Moines Fire Department.

A Des Moines police vehicle sits outside the emergency department at UnityPoint Health - Iowa Methodist Medical Center, where a police officer is being treated after being shot on Tuesday, July 30, 2024.
A Des Moines police vehicle sits outside the emergency department at UnityPoint Health - Iowa Methodist Medical Center, where a police officer is being treated after being shot on Tuesday, July 30, 2024.

The officer was critically injured and is being treated at UnityPoint Health’s Iowa Methodist Medical Center for a gunshot wound to the chest.

Des Moines shooting suspect appears to be from Nebraska, involved in domestic dispute

The suspect was shot by officers and died at the scene.

Investigation appears that the suspect was from Nebraska and had a relationship with the woman involved in the domestic dispute, Parizek said.

The Des Moines Police Department and the Iowa Department of Public Safety's Division of Criminal Investigation are investigating the shooting.

José Mendiola is a breaking news reporter for the Register. Reach him at jmendiola@dmreg.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines officer shot by friendly fire, remains in serious condition