ELMA — A Northern Iowa man who called 911 requesting a welfare check at his own home, then opened fire on responding officers, has been convicted of four counts of attempted murder of a peace officer.
A Howard County jury found Mark Michael Zweibohmer guilty on all four counts October 15, 2026, following the May 28, 2025, shooting at his rural Elma residence.
Neither the responding officers nor Zweibohmer was injured.
Welfare check turned into gunfire
The case began when the Howard County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from Zweibohmer requesting a welfare check at his residence.
When law enforcement arrived, Zweibohmer began shooting at the responding officers, according to authorities. He was arrested and charged with four counts of attempt to commit murder of a peace officer.
Zweibohmer (pictured at top) was identified as 49 at the time of the incident.
NIT first reported on the case in May 2025, when authorities announced that the rural Elma man had called 911 before opening fire on responders.
Jury returns guilty verdicts on every count
Nearly 17 months after the shooting, the Howard County jury returned guilty verdicts on all four charges.
Authorities credited cooperation among the Howard County Sheriff’s Office, Howard County Attorney’s Office, Iowa Attorney General’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office and other assisting agencies.
The announcement did not provide a sentencing date or additional details about the trial.