DES MOINES, Iowa — Authorities say a United States Postal Service employee shot two people Thursday morning at the Des Moines main post office. Those two victims, plus another person who was injured in a fall during the shooting, are being treated at local hospitals. None of the victims’ injuries are believed to be life-threatening. Des Moines Police Sgt. Paul Parizek said the shooting was reported around 9:10 a.m. Thursday at 1165 Second Ave., a United States Postal Service processing and distribution facility. He said authorities arrived at the scene three minutes after the report, as part of a “massive response.” Officers took the alleged shooter, who they said was an adult employee of the postal facility, into custody 11 minutes later under the Interstate 235 bridge. She has not yet been publicly identified and authorities still do not know what led up to the shooting. He said two of the victims are women and one is a man, all employees of the postal facility. This is breaking news. KCCI will provide updates as we learn more. Watch: Des Moines police provide update on USPS shooting Des Moines schools temporarily placed on safe status Des Moines Public Schools were temporarily moved to safe status Thursday morning after the shooting. In a Facebook post, DMPS officials said: Around 9:20 a.m., police reported a shooting at the downtown post office located at 2nd Street and University Avenue. Des Moines Police notified our staff immediately, and nearby Carver Elementary School, the DMPS Welcome Center, and the Central Nutrition Center went into security. A Lock means that no one can enter or leave the building. Police reported they had the suspect in custody nearby at 9:30 a.m. and are actively investigating at the post office. They notified our staff that it was safe to resume bringing people in and out of Carver Elementary School, the DMPS Welcome Center, and the Central Nutrition Center at 10:00 am. Security was lifted in these buildings. This message was previously sent via ParentSquare. Thank you for your patience and support as we worked to keep our families and staff safe. This content is imported from Facebook. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their website. UPDATE: Eric Hanson covers USPS shooting in Des Moines RAW VIDEO: Authorities on scene of USPS shooting in Des Moines Des Moines Post Office shooting: Police say suspected shooter detained Reynolds ‘grateful for immediate response from authorities’ This content is imported from x. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their website. I am in contact with the Department of Public Safety regarding a shooting at the Des Moines Main Post Office. The alleged shooter is in custody and the investigation is ongoing. We are monitoring the situation and our prayers are with everyone involved. Grateful for…— Governor Kim Reynolds (@IAGovernor) November 5, 2026 Nunn ‘closely monitoring’ Des Moines shooting This content is imported from x. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their website. I am closely monitoring reports of the shooting at the USPS facility in Des Moines. My prayers are with the victims, their families and everyone affected by this tragedy. Grateful to the law enforcement officers and first responders on the scene. https://t.co/MSdJ6W5CUX — Congressman Zach Nunn (@ZachNunn) November 5, 2026 Chuck Grassley ‘praying for all affected’ This content is imported from x. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their website. I’m following the news of the shooting this morning at the main post office in Des Moines Gr8ful to law enforcement + first responders who acted quickly 2 apprehended the shooter + treated the injured Barbara and I are praying for everyone affected — Chuck Grassley (@ChuckGrassley) November 5, 2026
