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UPDATE: Avoca man arrested following a shooting incident investigation

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October 10th, 2025 by Ric Hanson

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – In an update to our previous report, the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, this (Friday) afternoon, resulted additional information with regard to the arrest Thursday night of a man from Avoca, who faces several felony charges.
Authorities say at around 8:12-p.m., Thursday, the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office took a call of a person injured in a shooting in Avoca. The victim suffered minor injuries in the shooting. Deputies arrived on scene and determined the shooting occurred at a rural residence just west of Avoca, that the suspect was believed to still be in the home with minor children, and more gunfire was reported from the rural residence.
The Pottawattamie County Emergency Response Team and Negotiators responded to the scene west of Avoca. While deploying to the residence more gunfire was heard coming from near the home, and a male suspect, identified as Shaun McCarthy, was located outside. After a brief standoff, Shaun was taken into custody, and the minor children were found to be safe and unharmed inside the home.

28-year-old Shaun Patrick McCarthy

Following an investigation at the scene by the Pottawattamie County Investigations Division, 28-year-old Shaun Patrick McCarthy was charged with:
Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense – Residential Household Member (A Simple Misdemeanor)
Attempt to Commit Murder – A Class B Felony
Reckless Use of Firearm – Resulting in bodily injury – A Class D Felony
Going Armed with Intent – A Class D Felony
3 counts of Child Endangerment w/Substantial Risk – Aggravated Misdemeanors, and
Willful Injury – Resulting in Bodily Injury – A Class D Felony
McCarthy was being held in the Pott. County Jail on $40,000 bond. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa State Patrol.