DES MOINES – An Iowa man stole a car and committed two robberies, police said, before being shot dead by an officer.
At 9:07 AM Tuesday morning the Des Moines Police Communications Center received a notification of a robbery alarm at the Tradesman Credit Union at 2930 SE 14th in Des Moines. An adult male suspect brandished a handgun and demanded cash. After the suspect left, a vehicle description and license plate were broadcast to responding officers.
While headed toward the robbery an officer spotted the suspect in the described vehicle (black Ford Taurus) westbound on Indianola road. This vehicle had been reported stolen at approximately 8:04 AM. The officer turned around and initiated a pursuit of the suspect who pulled into the parking lot of the Club 2000 at 422 Indianola Rd. From this parking lot the suspect ran on foot out to Indianola road where he committed a second robbery.
Jeff Croll, age 31, of Des Moines and Kerry Lynch, age 30 of Boxholm, were driving in an SUV past the Club 2000 when the suspect pointed his gun at them taking their vehicle.
The suspect continued his flight in the stolen SUV eventually colliding with a parked vehicle near SE 4th and Scott St. After the collision, the suspect continued east to SE 5th turning north where he abandoned the SUV after striking a tree and fled again on foot westbound. While officers were pursuing the suspect he pointed his handgun at them. Out of concern for officers safety Senior Police Officer (SPO) Scott Newman fired his duty weapon at the suspect striking him in the torso. The suspect was taken to Iowa Methodist Medical Center where he later died.
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation responded to assist Des Moines Police Detectives in this investigation along with Des Moines Police Crime Scene investigators.
SPO Newman is a 15 year veteran of the Des Moines Police Department. As required by police department policy he is currently on administrative leave pending completion of an internal review of this shooting.
The suspect is identified as Nicholas Ryan Brickman, age 31, of Des Moines.
What a dead dummy. When you point a gun at a cop they will shoot you.