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- calendar_today November 5, 2026
Shooting at Des Moines Post Office Injures Three Employees
On Thursday, a female postal worker shot two fellow female employees at the main post office in Des Moines, Iowa. According to authorities, the incident left three postal employees injured, though none of the injuries were considered life-threatening.
Incident Details and Police Response
The shooting occurred on the facility's second floor, an area that is not accessible to the public. Witnesses reported hearing between 10 and 12 gunshots. The victims included two women, aged 45 and 53, and a 55-year-old man, who was injured during a fall while trying to escape. Des Moines police responded within three minutes of the first call at 9:10 a.m., detaining the 39-year-old female suspect at 9:21 a.m. along a nearby bike path without resistance. A 9 mm handgun was recovered at the scene where the suspect was apprehended. The identities of the alleged shooter and victims were not immediately released.
Status of the Victims
All three victims—two women and one man—were transported to the hospital and were reported to be in stable condition. Police Sgt. Paul Parizek stated, “They’re all at the hospital. They are being cared for right now.”
Investigation and Law Enforcement Involvement
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is conducting an investigation into the incident, working alongside local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Governor Kim Reynolds posted online that she is in contact with the Department of Public Safety and expressed gratitude for the immediate response by law enforcement officers.
Impact on Local Facilities
Due to the incident, nearby Des Moines Public Schools' elementary school, welcome center, and nutrition center temporarily restricted entry and exit until police confirmed that the suspect was in custody. These restrictions were lifted shortly thereafter. The main post office, where the shooting took place, is located just north of downtown Des Moines and across from one of the city's main hospitals.
Context: Previous Postal Facility Shootings
Past shootings at postal facilities have raised concerns about employee safety. Notable incidents include a 1986 shooting in Edmond, Oklahoma, where a postal worker killed 14 coworkers, and a 1991 incident in Royal Oak, Michigan, in which four employees were fatally shot. A 2000 report commissioned by postal officials followed these events to assess and address workplace violence, finding that the stereotype of violent postal workers was exaggerated. However, other attacks have taken place since the report, such as a 2006 shooting in Goleta, California.
Ongoing Investigation and Public Response
The shooting investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack. The incident has renewed attention on postal service safety and workplace violence prevention in postal facilities.
Source: startribune.com.
