On a cold January morning in 2015, the life of 34-year-old Autumn Mae Steele came to a tragic and abrupt end in her own front yard in Burlington, Iowa. The events of January 6th unfolded when police were dispatched to her home in response to a domestic disturbance. Officer Jesse Hill arrived to find Steele and her husband in a physical altercation while her husband was holding their young child.
As Officer Hill intervened, the situation escalated with the presence of the family's German
Shepherd. The officer stated that the dog bit him, causing him to draw his firearm. He fired two shots, intending to hit the dog, but he slipped on the icy ground. One of the bullets tragically struck Autumn Steele in the torso. She was transported to a local medical center but ultimately succumbed to the gunshot wound.
In the immediate aftermath, Officer Hill, the sole person identified as the shooter, expressed shock and distress, fearing he would go to prison, as captured on his body camera. An investigation was launched, and the Des Moines County Attorney later announced that no criminal charges would be filed against Officer Hill, deeming the shooting a "very tragic, accidental death." Hill was placed on administrative leave but later returned to duty. There were no other suspects or arrests made in connection with Steele's death.
The Steele family and transparency advocates challenged the official account of the incident, pushing for the release of all body camera footage. They filed a civil lawsuit against the City of Burlington and Officer Hill. This lawsuit was eventually settled out of court in June 2018 for $2 million. The settlement led to the release of previously sealed evidence, which provided more insight into the final moments of Autumn Steele's life. The family’s dog, which was initially confiscated, was later deemed "not vicious" and returned. Subsequent reports and court documents revealed that medical records and photos showed no puncture wounds from the alleged dog bite on Officer Hill.
