Des Moines shooting of suspect threatened with attempted murder and other charges
Updated November 5, 2026, 4:16 p.m. CT
(This story has been updated to add new information.)
A U.S. Postal Service employee is in custody following a shooting at the Des Moines Main Post Office that injured three people.
Police were called to the post office located at 1165 Second Ave. in Des Moines around 9:10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, said Sgt. Paul Parizek, spokesman for the Des Moines Police Department. Employees who called 911 reported what Parizek described as an “active killer” on the second floor of the building.
Suspect in post office shooting was employee
The suspect, identified as Jennifer Pledger, left the building before officers arrived at 9:13 a.m., Parizek said.
Pledger, 39, of West Des Moines, is charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of willful injury causing serious injury and one count of intimidation with a dangerous weapon, all of which are felonies.
She is being held at the Polk County Jail.
Witnesses at the scene reported Pledger to law enforcement. She was arrested without incident at 9:21 a.m. by Fifth Judicial District officers on a nearby bike path east of the post office. A 9mm handgun was recovered at the scene where she was arrested.
Witness and victim statements indicate Pledger opened fire on a group of U.S. Postal Service employees, including a woman who fell to the ground after being struck by gunfire.
“Pledger then approached the victim, stood over him and fired again,” Parizek said in the update. “Pledger is later described as firing shots in the direction of other employees as they fled the area of the shooting.”
The three injured — a 45-year-old woman, a 53-year-old woman and a 55-year-old man — were postal service employees, Parizek said. Their identities have not been released by police.
Both women were shot and the man was injured when he fell while trying to escape, Parizek said.
“I haven’t seen anything that indicates anyone has life-threatening injuries,” Parizek said. All three are in stable condition.
The two injured women went to MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center, located across the street from the post office, Parizek confirmed in an update Thursday afternoon. The injured man was transported by a police officer.
MercyOne did not confirm that it was treating victims and said in a statement that it could not comment on specific patients. UnityPoint Health told the Register it was not treating any victims.
The shooting took place in a non-public area of the post office
All 911 calls received by police indicate the shots were fired on the second floor of the building, which is not open to the public, Parizek said.
Initial reports indicate 10 to 12 shots were fired.
Police have no information at this time about the suspect’s motive and have not received any reports about the motive, Parizek said.
‘We are safe at the moment,’ police say
The first officer arrived approximately three minutes after the reports were received. The incident lasted about 11 minutes from start to finish, he said.
“We’re safe right now,” Parizek told media less than an hour after the 911 calls.
At that time, police were conducting searches of the facility to ensure there were no other victims or anyone hiding.
Nearby Carver Elementary School, as well as the Des Moines Public Schools Welcome Center and Central Nutrition Center, were in a temporary secure status, which meant no one was allowed in or out of the buildings, from 9:20 a.m. to 10 a.m., according to a message from DMPS.
Des Moines shooting draws law enforcement from multiple agencies
Federal agencies in Kansas City are on their way to assist in the investigation, Parizek said. The United States Postal Inspection Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting.
A reporter on scene observed police vehicles and law enforcement officers from several agencies, including the FBI, suburban police departments, the Iowa State Patrol and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Iowa officials respond to Des Moines post office shooting
Des Moines Mayor Connie Bosen was among a number of elected officials who thanked law enforcement and expressed concern for the victims following the shooting.
She called law enforcement’s “swift” response a “decisive end to a dangerous situation.”
“Our concern now is for the well-being of those injured and all others affected by this senseless act of violence in our city,” she said in a statement.
Other leaders included:
Governor Kim Reynolds said in an article on X that she was “grateful for the immediate response from law enforcement.”
U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley said on
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst said she was “grateful to the first responders who quickly responded to the scene, and my thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected,” in a social media post.
Gov.-elect Rob Sand said on Facebook that his “thoughts are with the Iowans impacted by this senseless act of violence. I will continue to monitor the situation and am grateful to the dedicated first responders who were able to respond quickly and ultimately save lives.”
Senator-elect Josh Turek said on X that he was “praying for everyone affected by this morning’s shooting at the Des Moines post office and for their families.”
U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, whose district includes Des Moines, said he was “closely monitoring” the shooting and his “prayers were with the victims, their families and everyone affected by this tragedy” in an article on X.
Second Avenue reopened near the post office
Second Avenue was closed between Laurel Street and University Avenue but reopened to traffic around 10:45 a.m., but a large police presence remained on scene and the post office was closed.
Kyle Werner is the Register’s breaking news and public safety reporter. Contact him at kwerner@registermedia.com.
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