Shooting Downtown Des Moines:Â Authorities in Des Moines are investigating a tragic and violent shooting that occurred Friday evening, May 8, 2026, near the intersection of SW 9th Street and Tuttle Street, leaving one man dead, a woman in critical condition, and a dog fatally shot at the scene.
According to the Des Moines Police Department, officers were dispatched around 5:45 p.m. to reports of gunfire in the 800 block of Tuttle Street, an area located south of W. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway near apartment complexes and warehouse buildings.
Preliminary findings indicate that a man allegedly shot a woman before turning the firearm on himself. The man was pronounced dead at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The woman was transported to a nearby hospital where she remains in critical condition as medical staff continue to provide emergency care.
Police also confirmed that a dog present at the scene was shot and killed during the incident, adding another tragic layer to the unfolding case.
At this time, investigators have not released the identities of those involved, pending family notifications. Officials have also not confirmed the circumstances that led to the shooting, and it remains unclear whether any prior relationship existed between the individuals.
The Des Moines Police Department’s Crimes Against Persons Unit, along with the Crime Scene Investigation team, remained on-site for several hours Friday evening, collecting evidence, documenting the scene, and restricting access to nearby streets and parking areas.
Authorities continue to classify the case as an active and ongoing investigation. Residents in the area described a heavy police presence and temporary road closures as investigators worked through the scene.
Officials are urging anyone with information related to the incident to come forward as they work to determine the full circumstances behind this fatal shooting in downtown Des Moines.