OTTUMWA, Iowa- One person is dead after a shootout with Ottumwa Police this (Friday) afternoon. Police Chief Tom McAndrew says a second suspect is injured, a third is in custody, and they're looking for a fourth suspect (as of 7 p.m. Friday).
Chief McGilvery says officers were called out on a shots-fired case on South Webster Street, around 1:45 p.m. He says area schools were put on lockdown, and they had the suspects cornered, when a suspect started shooting at officers with a rifle. He says once the shooting stopped, police moved in, but one suspect got away.
Police say they consider the fourth suspect to be armed and dangerous and are asking residents in the area to be vigilant, and to stay indoors, lock their doors, and call 9-1-1 if they see anything suspicious.
Chief McGilvery says they think the fourth suspect, a white male, wearing dark clothing, may be hiding in an nearby farm field. Ottumwa Police and the Iowa State Patrol are looking for him (as of Friday night).
The Ottumwa School District says children at a summer program at Liberty Elementary School were never in harms way. They were taken to another school for pick-up.
(Photo courtesy Roger Riley, Channel 13 WHO-TV)