Officers identified in Iowa Falls shooting that took man’s life

IOWA FALLS – On Thursday, April 17, 2014, at approximately 1:20 p.m. the Iowa Falls Police Department responded to an emergency call of an armed, suicidal man at 413 College Avenue.

After law enforcement arrived, the subject, Leighton C. Fitz, age 25, exited the residence armed with several weapons and wearing a bullet-proof vest. Fitz refused to obey commands from officers on scene, and reached for a weapon. After refusing to drop the weapon, officers fired rounds, fatally striking Fitz.

On April 18, 2014, an autopsy was conducted at the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner on the body of Leighton Fitz by Dr. Michelle Catellier. Dr. Catellier determined the cause of death to be multiple gunshot wounds. The manner of death will be certified as a homicide.

The names of the officers involved with this incident are now being released. Trooper Jeremy Schaffer, a 7-year veteran of the Iowa State Patrol, Trooper Kyle Haack, a 13-year veteran of the Iowa State Patrol, Officer Joe Metz, a 17-year veteran of the Iowa Falls Police Department, Officer Bryce Knudsen, a 25-year veteran of the Iowa Falls Police Department, and a Special Agent with 7 years of experience in the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement were identified as the officers who discharged their weapons, striking Fitz. All officers are on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, along with the Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Hardin County Sheriff’s, the Iowa Falls Police Department, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner are assisting in the investigation.

The Hardin County Attorney’s office has requested that the Iowa Attorney General’s Office review the facts surrounding this incident. The facts of the investigation will be forwarded to the Iowa Attorney General’s Office for their review.

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