In the early hours of January 4, 2026, a chaotic scene unfolded outside a Dubuque, Iowa bar that tragically ended the life of 29-year-old Cory Wilson Jr. A Dubuque police officer on routine patrol happened upon a physical altercation just before 1 a.m. in front of the Odd Fellows Bar on Locust Street. As the officer exited his vehicle, he witnessed 28-year-old Jaiondrick Lovely shoot Wilson.
The officer immediately responded by firing at Lovely, who then fled into the bar.
Emergency medical aid was provided to Wilson at the scene before he was transported to MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead. Officers who entered the bar discovered Lovely with a gunshot wound. He was taken to Unity Point Finley Hospital, where he also died.
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation was called in to investigate the officer-involved shooting, a standard procedure for such incidents. The involved officer, who was not injured, was placed on critical incident leave pending a review by the Iowa Attorney General's Office and the Dubuque County Attorney's Office. The Dubuque Police Department is continuing to investigate the circumstances that led to the initial shooting of Wilson and has asked anyone with information to come forward.
