On the evening of May 9, 2023, a heated dispute inside a Johnston, Iowa, apartment complex culminated in the shooting death of 62-year-old Steven Miller. The male victim was shot multiple times following an altercation and later died from his injuries at a local hospital. Another man was also wounded during the incident but his injuries were not life-threatening.
The events unfolded late that Tuesday night when Johnston Police were dispatched to an apartment building in the 4700 block of
NW 62nd Avenue around 11:27 p.m. in response to a dispute between neighbors. According to witnesses, Miller, who was known to the shooter, was in an apartment and became aggressive. He was reportedly threatening others with a knife and refused to leave the premises.
The man who shot Miller was identified as Dalton Meier. Meier was described by witnesses as having acted to protect himself and others who were present. One witness stated that Meier was not an aggressor but a "hero" who put himself in the line of danger to ensure the safety of others. Family and friends of Meier contended that he fired his gun as a last resort when Miller charged at them.
Following a comprehensive investigation by the Johnston Police Department, with assistance from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Ankeny Police Department's Crime Scene Technician, the case was presented to the Polk County Attorney. In September 2023, Polk County Attorney Kimberly Graham announced that after reviewing all the evidence, including witness interviews, it was determined that Dalton Meier had acted in self-defense and used reasonable force. Consequently, no criminal charges were filed against Meier, and the death of Steven Miller was ruled a justifiable homicide.
