Des Moines Post Office: Suspect in Custody After Two Shot

A woman was taken into custody on Thursday morning after a shooting at the main post office in Des Moines, Iowa. The incident occurred on the second floor of the facility, leaving two individuals shot and a third person injured while fleeing the scene. Authorities stated that no victims were believed to be in life-threatening condition.

Sergeant Paul Parizek of the Des Moines Police Department confirmed that officers arrived at the location within three minutes of the first report of shots fired, which came in around 9:10 a.m. local time. All three victims were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. The suspect, identified only as a woman who was inside the building during the event, has not yet been publicly named.

The main post office is a four-story regional sorting center located just north of downtown Des Moines. It sits directly across the street from one of the city’s primary hospitals. The building includes a public walk-in service counter, placing the incident in a high-traffic area for residents and workers.

Des Moines Public Schools were notified by police at 9:20 a.m. regarding the active incident. As a precaution, the district placed a nearby elementary school, a welcome center, and a nutrition center in a secure status. This protocol restricted entry and exit from those buildings to ensure the safety of students and staff.

The secure status at the school facilities was lifted at 10:00 a.m. after police informed the district that the suspect had been detained. Governor Kim Reynolds stated she was in contact with the Department of Public Safety to monitor the situation. She confirmed the shooter was in custody and thanked law enforcement for their immediate response.

Senator Chuck Grassley also commented on the event via social media. He noted that he and his wife, Barbara, were praying for those impacted by the incident. Grassley thanked first responders for their quick actions to detain the shooter and treat the injured. The investigation remains active as authorities gather evidence and interview witnesses.

Video footage from local affiliates showed officers converging on the scene to secure the area. The proximity of the post office to medical services and the city center facilitated the rapid coordination of emergency response. Police continue to determine the full scope of the events that led to the shooting on the second floor.