Welfare check in Tama leads to officer involved shooting

A man was killed in an officer involved shooting early Saturday in Tama.

Tama County 911 dispatchers received a call around 1 a.m. Saturday for a welfare check on a man who reportedly wanted to kill himself. A second caller told dispatchers he was armed with a gun and requested a welfare check.

Nearly 40 minutes later, officers found the man with a firearm in the 800 block of West 13th Street, a press release said. An officer fired their weapon striking the man, the release states. Officers immediately began rendering first aid at the scene until EMS arrived. The man was taken to UnityPoint Health — Marshalltown Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The man’s name was not immediately released pending notification of family members.

The officer involved in the incident has been placed on critical incident leave in accordance with departmental policy.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation was called to assist in the investigation. The Iowa Attorney General’s Office and Tama County Attorney also will review the case.