3 wounded in shooting at U.S. Postal Service facility in Des Moines

On November 5, 2026, three people were injured and one person was taken to the hospital with minor injuries after a gunman opened fire at the main United States Postal Service facility in Des Moines, Iowa. The shooting occurred around 9:10 AM local time on the second floor of the building, which is located just north of downtown Des Moines across from MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center. Authorities quickly responded to the scene; the suspect was a woman who has not been publicly identified and was detained by police near a trail under I-235 bridge shortly after the shooting began. Police declared the situation secure approximately three minutes after arriving, with multiple agencies including the Des Moines Police Department, Pleasant Hill Police Department, Polk County Sheriff's Office, and Iowa State Patrol participating in the operation. The injuries sustained by the victims were non-life-threatening, according to Sgt. Paul Parizek of the Des Moines Police Department.