WARREN COUNTY — An Iowa man is jailed on four attempted murder charges after authorities say he opened fire on multiple vehicles along Interstate 35, wounded a woman, crashed into another vehicle and then emerged from his disabled SUV armed with a handgun.
The frightening series of shootings unfolded shortly after 3:30 p.m. October 5 along northbound I-35 in Warren County.
Andrew Darrick Tanaka, 27, of West Des Moines, was taken into custody after law enforcement officers found him armed along the interstate. Authorities said he surrendered without further incident.
Court documents allege that after his arrest, Tanaka told officers, “I had to kill people today.”
Woman allegedly shot through driver’s window
According to criminal complaints filed in Warren County District Court, several 911 callers began reporting a person firing a gun from a vehicle at approximately 3:31 p.m.
Investigators allege that a woman driving a black BMW passed Tanaka, who was traveling in a black Chevrolet Equinox.
The BMW then passed a Subaru Outback.
Authorities say Tanaka (pictured at top) caught up with the Subaru and allegedly fired at least two rounds through the driver’s-side window.
One bullet struck the woman driving the Subaru in her left shoulder, according to investigators.
Emergency responders treated the woman before she was taken to a hospital. Authorities said her injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.
Police say gunfire then targeted BMW
The alleged shooting did not stop there.
Investigators say Tanaka continued northbound, caught up with the black BMW and fired another round through its driver’s-side window.
Multiple vehicles were ultimately found with apparent bullet damage.
The allegations follow several other serious shooting cases investigated around Iowa this year. NIT recently reported on a Fort Dodge shooting that left one man dead, two others wounded and an officer allegedly targeted by gunfire.
Crash leads to another alleged shooting
Authorities say Tanaka continued driving before rear-ending a gray Nissan Altima occupied by two people.
The occupants stopped and got out to check on Tanaka after the collision.
Investigators allege Tanaka then exited his vehicle carrying a handgun and fired at least one round into the Nissan’s windshield.
By then, law enforcement officers from several agencies were converging on the interstate.
The Warren County Sheriff’s Office, West Des Moines Police Department and Iowa State Patrol were among the agencies responding.
Officers find suspect holding handgun
Authorities located Tanaka near mile marker 60.
According to the criminal complaint, Tanaka was holding a handgun when officers arrived.
He was taken into custody without additional gunfire or injuries being reported.
Tanaka’s vehicle had become disabled after striking another vehicle.
The interstate was closed for several hours as officers secured the area and investigators processed multiple scenes and vehicles for evidence.
A previous Iowa interstate shooting also generated a major law-enforcement response when an armed suspect fired shots along an interstate in the Des Moines metropolitan area.
Four attempted murder charges
Tanaka was booked into the Warren County Jail and faces four counts of attempted murder.
Court records identify attempted murder under Iowa Code section 707.11(1) as a Class B felony.
The criminal complaints describe three vehicles involved in the alleged violence: the Subaru whose driver was wounded, the BMW allegedly struck by gunfire and the Nissan carrying two people that was allegedly fired upon after the collision.
The Warren County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation are continuing to investigate.
The allegations against Tanaka are accusations. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
NIT has followed other recent attempted murder cases around Iowa, including an Iowa case in which a state trooper was shot while confronting an accused killer.