MUSCATINE – An Iowa policeman was shot Friday evening by a desperate crook on the run who allegedly raced through residential streets, wrecked his getaway vehicle, fled on foot and opened fire on the officers closing in.
The wounded Muscatine officer was rushed to the hospital in stable condition while alleged gunman Mark Lee Jackson (pictured at top) vanished into the surrounding neighborhoods, unleashing an overnight manhunt and leaving residents warned to lock their doors, shelter inside and call 911 if the armed fugitive appeared.
The chaos began at approximately 5:12 p.m. on Friday, August 14, 2026, when a Muscatine County sheriff’s deputy attempted to stop a recklessly driven vehicle near Benham Avenue and Nebraska Street.
Jackson allegedly refused to stop and began racing erratically through residential neighborhoods at high speeds, forcing the deputy to give chase.
The vehicle eventually crashed, but Jackson was not ready to surrender. Police said he bailed out and continued his escape on foot.
Law enforcement officers located Jackson running in the 1200 block of Grandview Avenue at approximately 5:27 p.m.
A foot pursuit followed—and Jackson allegedly pulled a gun and fired at the officers chasing him.
A Muscatine Police Department officer was struck by the gunfire.
The wounded officer was transported from the scene by the Muscatine Fire Department and was reported in stable condition. Authorities did not release the officer’s name or provide additional information about the injuries.
Jackson slipped away following the shooting, touching off an intense search across the south side of Muscatine. Police warned residents to remain inside, lock their doors and stay away from the active search area.
An Iowa State Patrol aircraft joined the manhunt at approximately 10:30 p.m. Friday. In the most recent publicly available update reviewed by NIT, Jackson remained at large as of 12:45 a.m. Saturday.
Jackson was already a wanted man before the vehicle chase and shooting erupted.
Police said he has an active Iowa Department of Corrections warrant for violating parole and another warrant through the Muscatine Police Department for second-degree theft.
Jackson is described as approximately 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighing about 145 pounds. He has blue eyes and thinning gray hair.
The Des Moines man also has a documented history of attempting to escape from Iowa law enforcement.
An Iowa Court of Appeals decision shows Jackson was arrested in Polk County in March 2013 after a deputy spotted his vehicle leaving an address associated with drug activity.
When the deputy attempted a traffic stop, Jackson accelerated to more than 60 mph through a residential neighborhood.
Jackson eventually drove off the road, jumped a snowbank, lost control and spun his vehicle around until it was facing the pursuing squad car.
A deputy used the squad car to pin Jackson’s vehicle in place, but Jackson jumped out and fled on foot. His escape ended when he ran into a barbed-wire fence and bushes.
Jackson continued resisting as two deputies attempted to pull him free and place him in handcuffs. One deputy suffered injuries to his face and hands during the struggle.
Jackson pleaded guilty to eluding and interference with official acts inflicting bodily injury. He received prison terms of up to two years on each conviction.
Those sentences were ordered to run consecutively to an earlier sentence because Jackson had been on work release when the crimes occurred.
More than 13 years later, authorities say Jackson again fled a deputy through residential streets, crashed, ran away and escalated his escape by shooting a pursuing police officer.
The Muscatine Police Department and Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office were being assisted by the Muscatine Fire Department, Iowa State Patrol, Cedar County Sheriff’s Office, Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office, West Liberty Police Department, Wilton Police Department, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and Muscatine County Emergency Management.
Anyone with information concerning Jackson’s whereabouts or the shooting should contact the Muscatine Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit at 563-263-9922. Callers may remain anonymous.
Residents must not approach Jackson. Anyone who sees him should immediately move to safety and call 911.