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Report: Des Moines Officers Justified In Deadly Shooting Of Armed Teen

(Des Moines, IA) -- A state investigation has found three Des Moines Police officers were justified when the shot a 16-year-old male last month, resulting in the teen's death.

Police were called to a residence in the 400 block of East McKinley December 26th, after a man called 911 to report his stepson T.J. was armed and pointing a gun at him. Body cam footage shows the teen armed, negotiations with the teen, and more than 70 please by officers, T.J.'s grandmother, and T.J.'s friend to put the handgun down. Instead he raised it at officers and was shot 14-times by police on site, resulting in the teen's death.

“Every day, Iowa law enforcement officers put themselves in harm's way to keep us safe, not always knowing what will happen next,” said Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird. “In this particular case, four Des Moines police officers entered the scene knowing a perpetrator was armed. After refusing to comply with the officers’ requests to put the weapon down, they were forced to act, protecting themselves and those around them.”  

The Attorney General’s conclusion was based on a review and investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, including body camera videos by all the officers involved in the shooting.

A copy of the report is available here.  


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