EARLHAM, Iowa — One person was killed early Tuesday when law enforcement officers fired their guns during a traffic stop on U.S. Interstate 80 near Earlham, Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante announced Tuesday morning.
According to the sheriff’s statement, “deputies and officers discharged their firearms” during the course of “a traffic complaint near the 104 mile marker of Interstate 80” about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday.
In the incident, “the suspect, without provocation, fired multiple shots at law enforcement,” which drew responding units from the Adair County Sheriff’s office, Iowa State Patrol, Adel Police Department and more deputies from the Dallas County Sheriff’s office, the sheriff said.
The responding officers “were fired upon several more times before returning fire” and killing the suspect at the scene.
The “officers and deputies” who discharged their weapons “have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation,” the sheriff said. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is leading the ongoing investigation into the incident.
“We are committed to transparency and will provide additional information as it becomes available and as the investigation allows,” the sheriff’s statement said. “Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the Division of Criminal Investigation.”
