Three people were wounded Thursday morning when gunfire erupted inside the main United States Postal Service facility in Des Moines, Iowa, and a suspect has been taken into custody, according to police.
The shooting broke out at the Main Post Office, located at 1165 Second Ave. Reports of shots fired began coming in at about 9:10 a.m. local time, and authorities said the gunfire took place on the building’s second floor.
Des Moines Police Department officials launched an active shooter investigation, and multiple law enforcement agencies rushed to the scene. Police Sgt. Paul Parizek, the department’s spokesman, said officers arrived within three minutes of the first call.
Of the three people injured, two were found at the post office, while the third made their own way to a nearby hospital, according to police. All of the victims are now receiving hospital treatment.
Parizek told reporters gathered outside the facility that the scene was secure, according to the Des Moines Register. He added that nothing he had seen suggested any of the victims suffered life-threatening injuries.
Authorities have not released the identity of the suspect, the victims or any information about what may have led to the violence. The motive remained unclear as of Thursday morning.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a post on X that she was in contact with the state Department of Public Safety about the incident.
“The suspected shooter is in custody and the investigation is ongoing,” Reynolds wrote. She added that state officials were monitoring the situation, that her prayers were with everyone involved and that she was thankful for the swift response from law enforcement.
Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, whose district includes Des Moines, also weighed in, saying he was closely tracking reports of the shooting. Nunn said his prayers were with the victims, their families and everyone affected, and he thanked the police officers and first responders who answered the call.
The Des Moines Police Department is urging members of the public to steer clear of the area around Second Avenue and University Avenue while investigators work the scene.
No further details about the suspect, including whether the person had any connection to the Postal Service or to the victims, have been made public. It is also not yet known whether any of the injured were postal employees or customers.
The shooting comes as investigators across the country continue to respond to a string of violent incidents in recent days. In Des Moines, police have not indicated that Thursday’s shooting is connected to any other case.
Officials have said the investigation remains active, and additional information is expected to be released as it becomes available.
