Des Moines, Iowa police officer injured in shooting

“This officer is a hero”: Suspect dead, officer injured in shooting in Des Moines

Updated: 6:26 a.m. CDT July 30, 2024

NOW LET’S GET BACK TO BREAKING NEWS. KCCI ALYSSA GOMEZ IS WITH THE DES MOINES POLICE AND ALYSSA IS THERE. WHAT’S THE LATEST? SO, MARCUS, WE HAVE SERGEANT PAUL PARIZEK WITH US. HE’S GOING TO GIVE US AN UPDATE OF WHAT’S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. SERGEANT, YOU JUST WANT TO TAKE US THROUGH WHAT WE KNOW RIGHT NOW. UH, THE WHOLE THING STARTED WITH A CALL ABOUT A FAMILY DISPUTE ABOUT A MILE FROM OURS RIGHT NOW. THE POLICE OFFICERS RESPONDED. THEY WERE ABLE TO SPOT THE SUSPECT IN A VEHICLE IN THE AREA THAT HAD LEFT. THEY TRIED TO STOP HIM. IT BECAME A PURSUIT. HE HAD A CRASH RIGHT OFF THE ROAD. UM, THERE WAS AN EXCHANGE OF SHOOT AFTER THAT, ONE OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS WAS SHOT IN THE CHEST, AND THE SUSPECT IS DEAD HERE. DO WE HAVE THE CONDITION OF THE POLICE OFFICER RIGHT NOW? WELL, HE WAS GUNNED IN THE CHEST. HIS CONDITION IS PRETTY SEVERE RIGHT NOW. HE’S IN THE HOSPITAL. THEY’RE TAKEN CARE OF HIM. WE’LL PROBABLY UPDATE YOU LATER, BUT RIGHT NOW EVERYONE JUST NEEDS TO PRAY. I UNDERSTAND YOU. UM. YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED PRAYERS. THAT’S OBVIOUSLY THE CASE IF IT’S ONE OF THEM. IT’S A LOT MORE SERIOUS. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE ABOUT HOW THIS IMPACTS YOUR DEPARTMENT? YOU KNOW, WE’VE BEEN DONE THIS PATH BEFORE AND IT’S A TOUGH PATH. UH, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN’T LAST FOR FIVE DAYS. IN THE UNITED STATES, ABOUT 12 POLICE OFFICERS WERE SHOT. AND YOU DON’T HEAR ABOUT IT. UH, YOU KNOW, THAT INFORMATION IS NOT LOST TO US. WE UNDERSTAND THE RISKS WE ARE TAKING. UH, YOU KNOW, THAT. YOU’RE JUST ASSOCIATED WITH THE JOB, AND WE’RE GOING TO STAND BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, YOU AND DANGER. AND THAT’S WHAT HAPPENED TONIGHT. THIS COP IS A HERO. HIS PARTNER IS A HERO. AND WE ALL JUST HOPE THAT IT WORKS OUT OK FOR EVERYONE. WHAT KIND OF PROTECTIVE GEAR WAS THE COP WEARING? UH, AT THAT POINT? HE WAS WEARING A BALLISTIC VEST. OKAY, UH, HOW MANY COPS WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE? WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE AFTER THAT MOMENT? WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS, EVERYONE IN THE CITY, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THOSE OF US WHO WERE HOME, GET DRESSED AND COME OUT. ANY COP ON THE STREET THAT’S NOT DEALING WITH AN EMERGENCY COMES DOWN HERE. YOU KNOW, THAT’S THE REACTION YOU GET. AND THAT’S THE REACTION WE WOULD EXPECT. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THIS IS SOMEONE WE LOVE AND WE CARE ABOUT, AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, HE’S STANDING BETWEEN THEM AND DANGER. AND THAT’S WHAT HAPPENED. HOW RARELY DOES THAT HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY LIKE IN DES MOINES? WELL, WE HAVEN’T SHOT A COP IN A LONG TIME, BUT WE’VE SHOT COPS SEVERAL TIMES. I MEAN, IT’S JUST A COINCIDENCE THAT THAT DIDN’T HAPPEN. YOU KNOW, SIX MONTHS AGO, I WAS AT THIS TIME WHILE THE COP WAS WEARING A BODY CAMERA. DO WE HAVE THAT FILM PHOTO? IS THAT INCLUDED IN THE INVESTIGATION? THERE’S GOING TO BE A LONG INVESTIGATION. OBVIOUSLY WE’RE DEALING WITH A COP INVOLVED IN A SHOOTING AND OBVIOUSLY THE ATTEMPT TO MURDER OF A COP. THERE’S GOING TO BE A LONG INVESTIGATION. AND THERE’S BODYCAM VIDEO. AND WE MEAN, THAT’S PART OF THE INVESTIGATION. THAT’S NOT SOMETHING WE’RE GOING TO SHARE RIGHT NOW. OF COURSE. UM, CAN YOU PERHAPS TALK ABOUT HOW LONG YOU’RE GOING TO BE ON SITE THIS MORNING? THE ROADS WILL BE CLOSED FOR SEVERAL HOURS. SO WE WILL BE A LITTLE MORE SPECIFIC WHEN WE HAVE THOSE DETAILS. BUT RIGHT NOW, UM, THE ARMY POST ROAD WILL BE CLOSED FOR SEVERAL HOURS. AND IN FINAL, CAN YOU GIVE US ANY MORE INFORMATION ON THE SUSPECT AT THIS TIME? WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS A NO CONTACT ORDER IN VALID BETWEEN HIM AND THE PERSON WHO CALLED US. SO THAT WAS WHAT STARTED THE INVESTIGATION. WE WILL FIND OUT MORE LATER. ALL RIGHT. SERGEANT PAUL PARIZEK, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND PROTECTING US. UM, DID YOU HEAR ALL OF THAT? WE WILL BE WORKING TO PUT ALL OF THIS INFORMATION TOGETHER AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE ON SITE MONITORING THIS THROUGHOUT TOMORROW.

“This officer is a hero”: Suspect dead, officer injured in shooting in Des Moines

Updated: 6:26 a.m. CDT July 30, 2024

A Des Moines police officer was shot and a suspect is dead after a shooting on the city’s south side this morning. DMPD spokesman Sergeant Paul Parizek told KCCI that officers were responding to a report of a domestic dispute when they encountered the suspect driving away from the scene. After a brief chase, the suspect left the roadway and fired at officers, who returned fire. Parizek said the suspect was killed and the officer was shot in the chest. The department has not released the names of the people involved, but said the officer is 37 years old and has been with DMPD for four years. He is in a Des Moines hospital and in critical condition. “Right now, everyone just has to pray,” said Parizek, who said the injured officer was wearing a bulletproof vest. According to a DMPD post on X, there is no ongoing threat in the area, but East Army Post Road is closed between SE 36th and SE 45th streets. VIDEO: ‘This cop is a hero’: Suspect dead, officer injured in Des Moines shooting. “This cop is a hero.” According to a DMPD news release, officers were dispatched 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. “Officers saw the suspect’s vehicle driving near the scene and attempted to stop it,” the news release said. “The suspect fled from officers and began a pursuit.” That pursuit ended about a mile away in the 4300 block of East Army Post Road when the suspect’s vehicle exited the road southbound and stopped. “Seconds later, officers reported shots fired and an officer had been shot,” the news release said. At 6:05 a.m., DMPD said the officer was in critical condition. “We’ve been through this before and it’s tough,” Parizek said. “…We understand the risks we take. You know, they just come with the job, and we’re going to stand between you and danger, and that’s exactly what happened tonight. This officer is a hero. His partner is a hero, and we all just hope that it turns out OK for everybody.” This story is still developing. KCCI has a team near the scene and will keep you updated throughout the day.

DES MOINES, Iowa —

A Des Moines police officer was shot and a suspect is dead after a shootout in the city’s south side early this morning.

Sergeant Paul Parizek, DMPD spokesman, told KCCI that officers were responding to a report of a domestic dispute when they encountered the suspect driving away from the scene.

After a short chase, the suspect left the road and shot at the officers, who returned fire.

Parizek said the suspect was killed and the officer was shot in the chest. Police have not released the names of the people involved but said the officer is 37 years old and has been with the DMPD for four years. He is in critical condition at a Des Moines hospital.

“All we have to do right now is pray,” said Parizek, who said the injured officer was wearing a bulletproof vest.

According to a DMPD post on X, there is no current threat in the area, but East Army Post Road is closed between SE 36th and SE 45th Streets.

VIDEO: “This cop is a hero”: Suspect dead, cop injured in shooting in Des Moines

“This officer is a hero”

According to a DMPD press release, officers were dispatched 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 restraining order.

“Officers saw the suspect’s vehicle driving near the crime scene and attempted to stop it,” the press release states. “The suspect fled from officers and began a pursuit.”

The pursuit ended about a mile away, in the 4300 block of East Army Post Road, when the suspect’s vehicle ran off the road to the south and stopped.

“Seconds later, officers reported that shots had been fired and an officer had been shot,” the press release said.

According to DMPD, the officer’s condition has been critical since 6:05 a.m.

“We’ve been down this road before and it’s a tough one,” Parizek said. “… We understand the risks we take. You know, they just come with the job, and we’re going to stand between you and danger, and that’s what happened tonight. This officer is a hero. His partner is a hero, and we all just hope it turns out OK for everybody.”

This story will continue to develop. KCCI has a team near the scene of the accident and will keep you updated throughout the day.