MOULTON, Iowa — A shooting at a home in this small Appanoose County town Monday afternoon left three adults with gunshot wounds and sent the teenage suspect to the hospital as well, authorities said.
What Happened
Appanoose County Sheriff Gary Anderson said deputies were sent to a house in the 200 block of East Third Street around 2:30 p.m. after someone called 911 to report that three people had been shot. At that point, investigators did not know who was responsible or where that person had gone.
Deputies soon located the suspected shooter near the intersection of Eighth and Main streets. According to Anderson, the suspect is 17 years old and reportedly lives at the home where the shooting took place.
The teen appeared to be hurt and was taken into custody before being flown to a hospital in Iowa City. Anderson noted the teen’s injuries did not come from a gun.
After detaining the suspect, deputies returned to the residence and found three more people who had been shot. Officials said their wounds were serious or critical but not considered life-threatening. Two of them were airlifted to hospitals in the Des Moines area, while the third was taken to a hospital in Centerville.
Investigation Continues
Sheriff Anderson said nine people were inside the home at the time of the shooting, including five adults and four minors. Along with the teen suspect, three adults were hurt. None of the children in the home were injured.
Authorities believe the shooting grew out of a dispute among family members, though Anderson cautioned it is still too early to say exactly what led up to it or whether any charges will be filed. Deputies are working to obtain search warrants for the property as part of the ongoing investigation.
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said it was called in by the Appanoose County Sheriff’s Office to help with the case. The Iowa State Patrol, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the Centerville Police Department are also assisting, along with deputies securing the scene.
Officials stressed that the public in Moulton is not in danger since the suspected shooter has been identified and is already in custody.
Moulton is a small community located about 100 miles southeast of Des Moines. This remains an active and developing investigation, and authorities have not released further details about what specifically triggered the confrontation inside the home.
Local law enforcement agencies say they will continue gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses in the coming days as they work to determine what charges, if any, might eventually be filed in connection with the shooting.
