Des Moines PD: Officers tased suspect before he opened fire on them

DES MOINES, Iowa — Police have released more details about an officer-involved shooting early Monday morning that left a suspect dead and two Des Moines police officers hospitalized.

Sgt. Paul Parizek of the Des Moines Police Department says the preliminary investigation includes a review of officers’ body camera footage and indicates the incident began around 1:40 a.m. as a traffic stop due to an equipment violation in the 2500 block of Easton Boulevard.

The 37-year-old male driver of a 2005 Ford Focus initially stopped in a parking lot, but Parizek said the driver sped away as officers were exiting their patrol vehicles. About 20 seconds later, the suspect crashed the car after turning north onto E. 24th Street. The suspect then attempted to drive away but the car was blocked in by the officers’ vehicles. At this point, Sgt. Parizek said officers instructed the suspect to turn off the car and exit the vehicle. He refused.

Officers warned if he didn’t follow the instructions a Taser would be used, but the suspect did not comply and the Taser was deployed. Sgt. Parizek said the officers tried to remove the suspect from the vehicle and during the struggle, the suspect produced a handgun and began shooting at the officers.

Three police officers returned fire and the suspect was struck by gunfire.

Sgt. Parizek said officers on the scene immediately provided first aid to the injured officers and the suspect until rescue personnel from the Des Moines Fire Department could transport them to local hospitals. The suspect was later pronounced dead. Police are waiting until family members have been notified to release his name.

The two officers who were injured remain in the hospital receiving treatment. Sgt. Parizek said one officer received a gunshot injury to the head and the other officer a gunshot injury to the arm. Both officers have been with the department since 2022.

The Division of Criminal Investigation has been called in to join the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com.