Des Moines shooting: Officer in serious condition, but stable, officials say
A Des Moines police officer has been shot and a suspect is dead after an exchange of gunfire early this morning on the city's south side.
Sgt. Paul Parizek, spokesperson for DMPD, told vlog that officers responded around 3:30 a.m. to a home in the 5800 block of SE 35th Circle to investigate a report of a person violating a protective order.
VIDEO: Des Moines officers responded to a violation of a no contact order before shooting
"Responding officers saw the suspect's vehicle driving near the scene and attempted to stop it," the release said. "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 hung up in vegetation.
Parizek said officers' body camera footage shows the suspect attempting to flee from the officers on foot before pulling a handgun.
VIDEO: Des Moines police officer shot during shootout with suspect. Here's what to know:
"He initially points it towards his own head," Parizek said. "... 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.
Parizek said the officer was apparently struck by friendly fire in the back shoulder through a gap in his body armor. The injured officer was in serious but stable condition at a Des Moines hospital as of 11 a.m.
Iowa DCI special agent says it will 'be awhile' before more details are released
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating the early Tuesday morning shooting that left one suspect dead and another officer seriously injured. According to police, the officer was wounded by friendly fire.
Special agent Adam DeCamp said the Iowa DCI is currently working on gathering facts and evidence. He said they're looking at bodycam footage, speaking with witnesses and looking at the weapons used.
"One of the officers was injured and we haven't had an opportunity to talk with them," DeCamp said. "It's going to be awhile before we can really release a lot of new information about this shooting."
VIDEO: Injured officer recovering at metro hospital
DeCamp said it's not required the DCI investigates cases like this. He said the Des Moines Police requested the investigation.
"I believe that speaks to the transparency that the Des Moines Police Department is trying to provide in this situation," he said.
The Polk County Attorney's Office and the Iowa Attorney General's Office will be involved in the case. DeCamp said they can make a determination on if the officer acted within the scope of the law of Iowa pertaining to police officers.
VIDEO: Des Moines officer wore ballistics vest during shooting
Authorities have not released the names of the people involved but said they believe the suspect, a 45-year-old man, lived in Nebraska and had a previous relationship with the person who called 911.
"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," Parizek said. "So that indicates quite a bit of premeditation. ... (It's a) very frightening set of circumstances."
Police were originally called to a home in the Easter Lake neighborhood early Tuesday morning responding to a call for a man violating a no-contact order. Court documents obtained by vlog show the owner of the home police were called to filed the order Monday afternoon.
FULL NEWS CONFERENCE: Sgt. Paul Parizek provides update on deadly Des Moines shooting
Parizek said the injured officer is a 37-year-old male with four years of service with DMPD. The other officer is a 23-year-old male with 10 months of service with the department.
"It doesn't change what those officers experienced in that moment — what the threat was against them, and what they thought and felt," Parizek said of one officer's shot hitting another. "Their courage is still commendable."
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VIDEO: Sgt. Parizek shares initial update from scene of deadly shooting