DES MOINES, Iowa — A Des Moines police officer remains hospitalized after he was shot Tuesday morning, the department said in a press release.
Officers responded to a report of a domestic dispute at SE 35th Circle at around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sgt. Paul Parizek told Local 5.
The suspect allegedly had violated a no-contact order after police said that suspect had showed up to a house in the area on Friday. The suspect was also driving a stolen car from Council Bluffs with license plates that were stolen from Des Moines.
When officers arrived at the scene, they saw the suspect drive away. Security camera footage provided to Local 5 by a neighbor confirmed Des Moines police arrived at the cul-de-sac early Tuesday morning before locating the suspect.
A brief pursuit followed, ending when the suspect "appeared to lose control" and drove off the road just off of E. Army Post Road, according to the release.
The suspect allegedly jumped out of the car and ran away, then pointed a gun to his head and pulled the gun at the officers. Parizek said.
Both officers fired their guns at the suspect. During this time, police believe one of the officers was shot in the rear shoulder by the other officer, Parizek said in a press conference.
“You’re in a situation where your life is being threatened by someone with a gun, that’s how sometimes these errors happen," Parizek said.
The suspect was shot and killed by police. Police identified the suspect as 45-year-old Weston Dean Derby of Nebraska.
A neighbor Local 5 spoke with said this was the second summer this man had visited the residence "out of the blue."
The injured officer, who has been with the department for four years, was taken to a local hospital.
Parizek noted the officer's condition has improved, but he remains hospitalized as of Wednesday morning. Parizek added that the officer has already asked when he can return to work.
"We understand that there's risks in this business and we sign on to take those risks," Parizek said. "Every night, they go out there and they stand in between you and danger."
So far, the second officer has only been identified as a 23-year-old man who has served with the department for 10 months. That officer has been placed on administration leave, which is standard procedure for a police shooting.
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation will take the lead on any further investigations.
A retired DMPD Sergeant, David Murillo, weighed in on what it is like in these high-pressure situations and how they are trained for moments like these.
Murillo says, on day one, officers are trained for these high stress situations.
"It's constant," Murillo said. "It's never-ending training, because these things happen, and oftentimes when you least expect them."
Murillo, who has been in many high-pressure situations, shared what using a weapon on duty can feel like.
"It's just strange. You get tunnel vision. All the things they talk to you and tell you about in the academy, they actually come true," Murillo said. "So, when you actually experience that type of event, it rattles your cage. It makes you think about a lot of things."
There is a police saying Murillo shared and that is that "police work is 95% boredom and 5% sheer terror."
"When the event happens, and shortly thereafter, you're just kind of jacked up," Murillo said. "Your emotions are running high, the adrenaline's high, but then you start to come down."
Moments and situations like this impact all officers. Murillo says the saying "expect the unexpected," is very true.
Local 5 will update this story as more information becomes available. Download the We Are Iowa app or subscribe to Local 5's "5 Things to Know" email newsletter for the latest.