Search fatalities

Name Not Disclosed

Gender : Female

Age :

Race : Unknown

Date : 07/13/2025

Location : 2800 block of Grand Avenue

City : Des Moines

County : Polk

State : Iowa

Agency : Des Moines Police Department

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during mental health crisis

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On Sunday, July 13, 2025, around 7:15 p.m., Des Moines police officers responded to a call for assistance at a residence in the 2800 block of Grand Avenue, where a woman was reportedly experiencing a mental health crisis. Family members or neighbors had called 911 reporting that Black was armed with a knife and threatening to harm herself inside the home.
Responding officers arrived and attempted to negotiate with the woman, who was reportedly in a highly distressed and agitated state. According to initial police statements, officers spent several minutes attempting to de-escalate the situation verbally. Despite this, she allegedly advanced toward the officers with the knife.
Police then opened fire, striking her. She was provided emergency medical attention at the scene and then transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead shortly afterward. No officers were physically injured during the incident.
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is conducting an independent investigation into the shooting.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.kcci.com/article/woman-identified-des-moines-police-shooting-mental-health-crisis/65415032
https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/local/des-moines-police-shooting-mental-health-response/524-b4e7d248-3e2d-46b5-8c8d-efc7680177ab
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2025/07/14/woman-killed-in-des-moines-officer-involved-shooting-identified/73945534007/
https://whotv.com/news/local-news/des-moines-woman-armed-with-knife-shot-by-police-identified/