2 Waterloo police officers shot, suspect killed in Sunday shooting

Both officers remained in hospital Monday morning.

WATERLOO — Two Waterloo police officers were shot and a suspect is dead in a shooting early Sunday morning.

Officers responded to a report of a man with a gun in the 200 block of Manson Street at about 8:22 a.m. Upon arrival, officers found Kelvin Lee Plain Jr., 35, riding a bicycle near Sullivan Park, matching the description, according to a Monday news release from the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

Officers caught up with the man in the area of ​​East Fourth and Cottage streets. Plain fled from officers on a bicycle and then on foot through a park, the release said. Officers used a Taser on Plain as he ran, knocking him to the ground.

According to the release, Plain fired a gun at the officers, hitting one officer who was still in the car, and the other was shot while he was on foot. Both officers returned fire, killing Plain.

The release said the incident was recorded on a dash cam mounted in a Waterloo Police vehicle.

Plain was pronounced dead at the scene. Two officers who were shot during the incident were taken to hospital for treatment. The statement said their condition was stable. One was scheduled to be released on Monday.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating the incident, which is typical procedure in officer-involved shootings.

Investigators closed off several blocks around the shooting scene, including much of Sullivan Park, as neighbors began gathering.

The deceased’s mother also arrived at the scene.

“My son was shot. … I just wanted to stay here long enough until they got my child’s body off the ground, and I managed to do that,” the mother said.

She added that she was still trying to come to terms with what had happened.

“They said he ran through the park and the police tasered him and they say my son shot at two policemen while he was on the ground. But there is a bike and his shoes are still in the park,” she said.

The woman said she spoke with police and Mayor Quentin Hart, who arrived at the scene.

This is the second police-involved shooting in Waterloo this year.

In March, officers received a report of a man with a gun who was threatening people and fired a shot at an automotive store near his home. Police responded and saw John Piazza pointing a gun out the window of his home. Piazza was shot.