Wellman man killed by single gunshot wound in officer-involved shooting

WELLMAN - The Wellman man killed in an officer-involved shooting outside of his burning home died from a single gunshot wound to the chest.

An autopsy on 39-year-old Martin F. Hammen was conducted Monday by the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner and the cause of death was released Tuesday. Additionally on Wednesday, the Iowa Department of Public Safety identified the officer who fired the fatal shot as Washington County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Kirk Bailey. Bailey is a 20-year law enforcement veteran, authorities said.

Deputies were called to Hammen's residence, 1149 Highway 22, at 9 p.m. Saturday for a report that he was suicidal. Attempts to locate Hammen at his home at the time were unsuccessful, police said.

Deputies returned to Hammen's home at 1:14 a.m. Sunday for a report of a residential fire. Responding deputies found the home and structures on the property on fire. A man was seen running north from the property across Highway 22. A short time later, Hammen emerged from the tree line carrying a handgun and a propane torch, police said.

Hammen was ordered to drop the handgun, but ignored the deputies' orders. After Hammen allegedly waved the handgun in a threatening manner toward the deputies, Bailey fired from his service rifle and hit Hammen in the upper torso, authorities said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating the incident with assistance from the Washington County Attorney's Office, Iowa Attorney General's Office, Iowa Department of Public Safety's State Fire Marshal Division, Washington Police Department, Keota Police Department and the Wellman Fire Department.