DES MOINES, Iowa — A frightening scene unfolded at a regional postal facility in Des Moines on Thursday morning when a shooting left three people injured and prompted a swift, high-stakes law enforcement response.
The incident occurred at the main post office located at Second Street and University Avenue, just north of the downtown area. Authorities received a 911 call from inside the facility at approximately 9:10 a.m., just one hour after the building—a four-story regional sorting center that includes a public service counter—had opened for daily operations.
According to Des Moines police, the violence broke out on the second floor of the building. Officers arrived on the scene within three minutes of the emergency call, rapidly securing the area and taking the suspect into custody.
Sgt. Paul Parizek of the Des Moines Police Department confirmed that while three individuals were injured, none of the victims sustained life-threatening wounds. Two of the victims suffered gunshot injuries, while the third person was injured during a fall as the chaos unfolded. All three were transported to the nearby MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center, which sits directly across the street from the postal facility, for immediate medical attention.
The proximity of the shooting to local educational facilities triggered an immediate safety protocol. At 9:20 a.m., Des Moines Public Schools were notified of the active situation. The district promptly placed a nearby elementary school, a nutrition center, and a welcome center into a “secure status,” locking the facilities to prevent anyone from entering or exiting. The lockdown remained in effect until 10:00 a.m., when police confirmed that the suspect was in custody and that the area was no longer an active threat.
State officials moved quickly to address the incident as news broke. Gov. Kim Reynolds took to social media to express her support for the victims and praise the efficiency of the responding officers.
“I’m in contact with the Department of Public Safety regarding a shooting at the Main Post Office in Des Moines,” Gov. Reynolds wrote on X. “The suspected shooter is in custody and the investigation is ongoing. We are monitoring the situation and our prayers are with everyone involved.”
Governor-elect Rob Sand also issued a statement regarding the morning’s events, calling the shooting a “senseless act of violence” and extending his thoughts to those affected.
As of Thursday afternoon, the investigation remains active as authorities work to determine the circumstances that led to the shooting. Police have not yet released the identity of the suspect or details regarding a possible motive.
This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
This story includes reporting from the Associated Press.
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