UPDATE: Additional charges filed against Perry shooter

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Perry Police Chief Eric Vaughn is expected to make a full recovery after sustaining a gunshot wound Tuesday in a confrontation with a subject.

Jeremiah Matthew Messner, 30, of Perry was arrested Tuesday on charges of attempted murder, going armed with intent, felon in possession of a firearm and trafficking in stolen weapons.

More charges were filed Tuesday afternoon against a Perry man who allegedly shot Perry Police Chief Eric Vaughn with a handgun Tuesday morning.

Jeremiah Matthew Messner, 30, of 1319 W. Second St., Perry, was charged with attempted murder, going armed with intent, felon in possession of a firearm and trafficking in stolen weapons.

Vaughn is hospitalized with a leg wound. The 28-year law enforcement veteran who has served as Perry’s Chief of Police since 2013 is expected to make a full recovery and be released Wednesday, according to a Perry Police Department spokesperson.

At the time of his arrest, Messner was on probation following a conviction on two counts of first-degree harassment in 2020 in Dallas County District Court. In a probation revocation filed Tuesday with the court, Fifth Judicial District Court Probation/Parole Officer Mark Esser described Messner’s alleged violation of probation:

Police pursued the defendant into a nearby field. The defendant was in possession of a firearm and marijuana. Police positioned themselves around the defendant while attempting to get him to drop the weapon. It was reported the police gave the defendant a lighter in attempt to calm him down. The defendant put down the weapon in order to retrieve the lighter. It was reported the defendant was spooked during this time and went for the firearm at the time police were attempting to effect his arrest. The defendant fired the weapon and Perry Police Chief Vaughn was struck in the upper thigh.

According to a statement issued late Tuesday by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation:

At 6:27 a.m., near West 8th Street and Saint Paul Street, law enforcement officers from the Perry Police Department, Dallas County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa State Patrol located Messner, who was armed with a handgun. Officers negotiated with Messner and persuaded him to place the handgun on the ground. As officers attempted to take Messner into custody, he was able to regain possession of the handgun. During the struggle with officers, Messner fired his handgun striking Perry Police Chief Eric Vaughn in the upper leg.

Messner is held in the Dallas County Jail without bond. He is scheduled to make an initial appearance Wednesday in Dallas County District Court.

*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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