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Weston Dean Derby

Age : 45

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 07/30/2024

Location : E Army Post Road and SE 45th Street

City : Des Moines

County : Polk

State : Iowa

Agency : Des Moines Police Department

Officer(s) :Jesse Schneider, Anthony Lampman

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during pursuit

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 07/30/2024 at approximately 3:30 a.m., Des Moines Police Department officers responded to a report that 45-year-old Weston Dean Derby had violated a recently issued protective order by appearing at his former girlfriend's residence in the 5800 block of SE 35th Circle. The caller reported that Derby was acting erratically and left the area in what appeared to be a stolen SUV. Officer Jesse Schneider located the vehicle nearby and attempted a traffic stop. Derby continued driving while officers pursued.
The pursuit ended when Derby drove off East Army Post Road into dense vegetation, where his vehicle became disabled. Derby exited and ran on foot while holding what appeared to be a handgun. Officers repeatedly ordered him to stop and drop the weapon. Body-worn camera footage showed Derby briefly placing the weapon against his own head before turning and pointing it toward Officers Schneider and Anthony Lampman. Both officers then fired, striking Derby multiple times. Derby died at the scene. The object he was carrying was later determined to be a Gamo P-27 .177-caliber pellet pistol that investigators said was nearly indistinguishable from a semi-automatic handgun.
During the exchange of gunfire, Officer Jesse Schneider was struck in the back shoulder by a round fired by Officer Anthony Lampman. Schneider was hospitalized for approximately one week before being released to recover. Investigators concluded the injury resulted from friendly fire.
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the shooting. Polk County Attorney Kimberly Graham and the Iowa Attorney General's Office independently reviewed the evidence, including body-worn camera footage, witness statements, forensic evidence, and scene reconstruction. Both concluded that the officers reasonably believed Derby posed an imminent threat when he pointed the weapon toward them and determined that the use of deadly force was legally justified. No criminal charges were filed, and the Attorney General formally closed the investigation in September 2024.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.kcci.com/article/des-moines-police-shooting-officers-involved-identified-jesse-schneider-anthony-lampman/61803758
https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/crime/des-moines-police-officer-shot-in-critical-condition/524-19d7d0da-9077-42a5-b1f5-c416c773187f
https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/newsroom/iowaattorney-generals-office-concludes-des-moines-police-officers-acted-with-legal-justification-i
https://www.kcci.com/article/investigation-finds-des-moines-officers-justified-in-fatal-shooting/62374526
https://who13.com/news/man-shot-and-killed-by-des-moines-police-identified/