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Des Moines Police are releasing bodycam footage of an officer-involved shooting on the city's South side.
On March 24th, 2026, Police were called to an apartment complex on SE 5th Street in Des Moines for a welfare check. David Ewing called after not hearing from his daughter Martasha “Tae” McKenzie that afternoon. She had also missed a gym session, and did not pick up her children from daycare.
Senior Police Officers Noah DeVenney and Marcel Greiser arrived and knocked on the door where 33-year-old Zakar Jeffrey lived, with no response from inside the apartment. Jeffrey was the father of one of McKenzie's children.
Police contacted property management to attempt to get access to the apartment, and unlocked the door. Ewing opened the door, and took a step inside, when Jeffrey lunged at him with a knife. He was able to block the knife, and jumped back into the hallway. Jeffrey then charged at one of the officers with the knife raised, leading police to open fire and hit Jeffrey. He later died from his injuries.
Inside the apartment, police found McKenzie lying dead in the bed. An autopsy determined she died of asphyxiation.
The Iowa Attorney General's Office and the Polk County Attorney's Office both ruled the actions of police during this shooting were legally justified.
You can watch the body-worn camera footage from this shooting below. Viewer discretion is advised.