Man Wielding Air Soft Gun Shot and Killed by Waterloo Police
Waterloo Police were called to the Flavor Shop on 2301 Lafayette Street at 4:30 pm on Saturday when a man was reported to be waving a gun.
Upon arrival by law enforcement, they found the man -- later identified as Michael Ahrens -- walking near the intersection of Dubuque Road and Adrian Street. Upon finding Ahrens, the authorities ordered him several separate times to drop the firearm, but the 32-year-old man refused.
Following his refusal, and more waving of the gun in the general direction of the officers, police fired warning shots at Ahrens.
According to KCRG, "(Waterloo PD) said they fired 'less-than lethal rounds' at Ahrens, but he still refused to drop the gun." WHO13 reports that the officers "shot Ahrens with a bean bag round to try to subdue him."
Following the warning shots, Ahrens pointed his weapon at the police twice, upon which the two different officers fired. He was struck by two bullets.
Ahrens was transported to the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, where he later died.
KCRG continues, saying that "The pistol Ahrens was holding was later identified as an airsoft pistol. The officers involved have been placed on paid administrative leave." The gun pictured above is the pellet gun Ahrens possessed.
None of the officers involved were harmed.
KWWL adds that "Upon completion of the investigation, the case will be forwarded to the Blackhawk County Attorney's Office for a review," and KCRG says "The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating the incident."
The Iowa Department of Public Safety report says "Audio and video of the incident was captured on several Waterloo PD body cameras."