On a spring day in Iowa Falls, a domestic dispute set in motion a chain of events that would end in the death of 25-year-old Leighton Fitz, a White male. On April 17, 2014, law enforcement was called to his residence after his girlfriend reported that he was armed and suicidal. This initial call for help initiated a standoff that would last for hours, culminating in a fatal encounter with police.
Officers from the Iowa Falls Police Department, the Hardin County Sheriff's Office, and the Iowa State Patrol responded to the call, establishing a perimeter around Fitz's home. During the standoff, Fitz reportedly posted on social media, stating he was "barricaded" in his house and that any officer would "meet a heavily armed and armored man." He was seen wearing body armor, and it was later discovered he had multiple firearms, including a loaded semi-automatic rifle just inside the door of his home and another high-powered rifle in an upstairs bedroom.
After some time, Fitz exited his house and engaged in a tense conversation with the officers. Law enforcement officials stated that despite their commands to keep his hands visible, Fitz's actions escalated the situation. He was said to have reached into his pocket, at which point he pulled out what was later identified as a silver and black semi-automatic pistol. In response to this perceived threat, five of the twenty-three officers on the scene opened fire. A total of 68 shots were fired in a matter of seconds, and Fitz was struck multiple times. He was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy later confirmed that his death was a result of multiple gunshot wounds.
Following an investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Iowa Attorney General's Office reviewed the case. Their report concluded that the use of deadly force by the officers was legally justified. The report stated that the officers had an obligation to engage with Fitz based on the initial report and that his subsequent actions, including drawing a weapon, created a deadly threat to those in the vicinity. The official determination was that the officers' actions were objectively reasonable under the circumstances, and the death was ruled a justifiable homicide. Consequently, no arrests were made, and the officers involved were cleared of any wrongdoing.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Leighton Fitz's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Iowa Falls, the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Hardin County, and the individual officers who fired their weapons. The lawsuit alleged that the officers used excessive force and were negligent in their handling of the situation, particularly given their awareness that Fitz was mentally unstable and suicidal. The family's legal filings contended that Fitz was not brandishing a weapon in a threatening manner and that the officers had opportunities to restrain him using non-lethal methods. A judge ultimately dismissed the lawsuit.
