Three people were injured Thursday in a shooting at the Des Moines Post Office on Second and University Avenue, and police detained a suspect. Sgt. Paul Parizek said the victims were at the hospital and being cared for.
Paul Parizek on the victims
Parizek said the 911 call came from inside the post office after 9 a.m., about an hour after it had opened. Shots were fired on the second floor, and the injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.
Second and University Avenue
The main post office sits just north of downtown Des Moines and across the street from MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center. That location put the response in a busy part of the city, with police moving in while the building was still open for morning business.
Kim Reynolds said she was in contact with the Department of Public Safety regarding a shooting at the Main Post Office in Des Moines. She also said the suspected shooter was in custody and the investigation was ongoing.
The immediate concern for the people inside was getting treated and secured while police worked the scene. For anyone who was inside when the shots were fired, the practical next step is the same one investigators are following: account for what happened on the second floor and piece together what led to the shooting.
