MONTICELLO, IOWA – An Iowa deputy who shot and wounded a man who had just allegedly shot and killed a man working at a Fareway store has been cleared of any wrongdoing by the local county attorney investigating the incident.
LEGAL OPINION OF THE DELAWARE COUNTY ATTORNEY REGARDING THE OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING IN DELAWARE COUNTY, IOWA, ON NOVEMBER 7, 2023:
On November 7, 2023, at approximately 7:24 a.m., a shooting was reported in Monticello, Iowa. At approximately 9:30 a.m., during law enforcement’s search for the suspect in the Monticello shooting, Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputy Matt Menard made contact with 38-year-old Nathan Allen Russell in the area of Walnut Street in Hopkinton, Iowa. During that contact, Deputy Menard shot and wounded Russell.
Deputy Menard is a 25-year veteran of law enforcement, including the past 14 years with the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office.
After a review of investigative materials collected by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and in conjunction with Iowa law, I have made the following determination: That the level of force used by Deputy Menard in shooting Russell was reasonable under the circumstances of the moment, to not only protect his own life, but also the lives of nearby citizens. I have further determined that Deputy Menard acted in accordance with his training and experience. When the whole of the incident is looked at objectively, Deputy Menard’s actions in shooting Russell were reasonable and legally justified under Iowa law and he will face no criminal liability.
Russell has been charged with murder in Jones County, Iowa. Because that matter remains open, no facts surrounding that charge will be discussed.
