A suspect is in custody after two people were shot at the main post office in Des Moines, Iowa, and a third was injured while trying to escape. None of the injuries is believed to be life-threatening, police said.
Officers responded within three minutes of reports of gunfire at about 9.10am local time on Thursday. The shooting took place on the second floor of the building, authorities said.
Des Moines police sergeant Paul Parizek said all three victims had been taken to hospital. “They’re all at the hospital; they are being cared for right now,” he said.
The four-storey post office is a regional sorting facility just north of downtown and across the street from one of the city’s main hospitals. It also has a public walk-in service counter.
Iowa governor Kim Reynolds said she was in contact with the Department of Public Safety. “The suspected shooter is in custody and the investigation is ongoing,” she said in a statement. “We are monitoring the situation and our prayers are with everyone involved. Grateful for the immediate response by law enforcement.”
Des Moines Public Schools said a nearby elementary school, welcome centre and nutrition centre were placed in a secure status after police notified the district at 9.20am. No one was allowed to enter or leave the buildings during the precautionary measure.
The restrictions were lifted at 10am after police confirmed that a suspect had been detained.
