Vandalism Turns Into Shooting Incident

When windows started shattering at Des Moines (Iowa) television station KCCI, employees dialed 911 to report they were under fire from a gunman, setting off a chain of events that ended with an officer-involved shooting. What the employees actually heard was windows breaking as a man was hurling rocks at the station, enraged from a possibly psychiatric condition. The first 911 calls to police dispatchers mentioned gunfire, but without any real confirmation. Dispatchers sent officers to the scene believing they were looking for a gunman. A KCCI employee who had gone outside the building was holding his cellular phone when an officer spotted him in the shadows. After telling him to freeze, the employee began pointing in the direction of the actual suspect. Fearing the person was pointing a gun, the officer fired at the employee, but missed. The employee then yelled out his identity, and the actual suspect was chased down and arrested. Police have met with station officials, explaining how the shooting mistake occurred. Read more about the incident and listen to the 911 calls here, and consider what dispatcher questions might have clarified the situation at the TV station.