(DeSoto, Iowa) – The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office reports an incident on Interstate 80 west of DeSoto early this (Tuesday) morning, resulted in a fatal shooting. Authorities says at around 1:34-a.m., a Dallas County Deputy and a Stuart Police Officer were conducting a traffic investigation just east of the 104-mile marker on Interstate 80. Deputies with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, Adair County Sheriff’s Office, Stuart Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, and the Adel Police department assisted in the investigation. During the course of the incident, deputies and officers discharged their firearms, when the suspect in the investigation, “without provocation, fired multiple shots at law enforcement.”

Following the initial gunfire, additional units from the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Adel Police Department, and more deputies from the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene to assist. Officers on scene were fired upon several more times before returning fire. The suspect was ultimately struck and pronounced dead at the scene.

The incident remains under investigation. Per standard protocol, officers and deputies involved have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.  The Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is conducting a thorough and independent investigation into the incident. The name of the involved Officers/Deputies are being withheld at this time pending notification requirements and the ongoing investigative process.