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Man charged with killing Iowa trooper to plead self-defense
Prosecutors move to stop ‘stand your ground’ testimony
GRUNDY CENTER — A man charged with shooting and killing an Iowa State Patrol trooper last year in Grundy Center plans to plead self-defense, according to court filings in the case.
Michael Lang, 42, is scheduled to stand trial May 9 in the April 9, 2021, shooting death of patrol Sgt. Jim Smith. Lang is charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder and assaulting a police officer.
Lang's attorney filed a notice Tuesday that he will plead self-defense, The Des Moines Register reported.
Prosecutors have filed a motion asking a judge to prevent testimony about Lang's self-defense claim and about Iowa's "stand your ground" law.
Smith, a 27-year patrol veteran, was shot as he led a team of officers into Lang's home in Grundy Center. Lang had barricaded himself inside the home after assaulting another officer after a traffic pursuit earlier in the day, police said.
The trial has been moved from Grundy Center to Webster City because of pretrial publicity.
A Grundy Center police car parks outside a house April 10, 2021, with damage along G Avenue in Grundy Center. An Iowa State Patrol trooper was killed during a standoff there. (Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen via AP)
This undated photo provided by the Iowa Department of Public Safety shows Michael Lang, charged in the shooting death of Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Jim Smith. (Iowa Department of Public Safety via AP)
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