Des Moines officer shot, suspect dead after gunfight

DES MOINES, Iowa — A Des Moines police officer was shot and a suspect is dead after shots were exchanged with police following a chase early Tuesday morning.

Des Moines Police Sgt. Paul Parizek said officers responded to the 5800 block of SE 35th Circle where someone was violating a no-contact order around 3:32 a.m.

Responding officers spotted the suspect’s vehicle near the scene at 3:53 a.m. and attempted to stop it, but he fled. The suspect fled westbound on E. Army Post Road and at approximately 3:58 a.m. veered off the road in the 4300 block and came to a stop.

Moments later, officers reported that shots had been fired and the officer had been hit.

“The suspect came out, shot at the officers, they shot back. So he’s dead. And the officer is in the hospital, and we have another officer that’s at the police station,” said Sgt. Parizek.

The officer was shot in the chest and taken to hospital.

According to police, the officer is a 37-year-old man with four years of service in the department who was seriously injured in the shooting.

“Pretty serious condition. The hospital is doing everything they can to help him. He’s probably still in critical condition, we’re just hoping and praying for the best,” said Sgt. Parizek.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation will handle the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.

This is a developing story. Please check www.who13.com regularly for more information as it is released.