By Joanna Putman
Police1
DES MOINES, Iowa — Des Moines police have released body camera footage of a man opening fire and shooting officers, leading to a fatal officer-involved shooting, the Des Moines Register reported.
The incident began on Sept. 16 when officers pulled over a man due to a taillight issue, according to the report. As officers approached, the man sped away, leading to a brief pursuit that ended when he crashed into a semi-truck.
The video, which was made public on Oct. 28, shows two officers exiting their vehicle and repeatedly ordering the man to turn off his car and step out. One officer aimed a TASER at the man, who had moved his leg outside the car and was rocking the vehicle back and forth. Despite multiple commands to exit the vehicle, the man did not comply, leading officers to deploy their TASERs.
As officers attempted to remove the man from the car, he resisted and produced a handgun, firing seven shots, video shows. He struck both officers, one in the head and the other in the arm, according to the report. As one officer collapsed, other officers responded with 51 shots, fatally wounding the suspect. The man briefly attempted to stand before succumbing to his injuries.
Both wounded officers were hospitalized and are now recovering at home, according to the report. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird and Polk County Attorney Kimberly Graham determined the officers were legally justified in using deadly force.
