DCI Charges Subject in Homicide and Attempted Murder of a Peace Officer

What this means

STUART, Iowa - On August 18, 2026, at 3:35 p.m., law enforcement officers were dispatched to a report of shots fired in the 200 block of SW 6th Street in Stuart, Iowa. Responding officers included those from the Stuart Police Department, the Adair and Guthrie County Sheriff’s Offices, and the Iowa State Patrol. Upon their arrival, they located a deceased adult female outside the address.

Official release

Source material from Iowa Department of Public Safety. The wording below is the issuer’s statement.

DCI Charges Subject in Homicide and Attempted Murder of a Peace Officer

Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Press Release

Image

August 19, 2026

STUART, Iowa - On August 18, 2026, at 3:35 p.m., law enforcement officers were dispatched to a report of shots fired in the 200 block of SW 6th Street in Stuart, Iowa. Responding officers included those from the Stuart Police Department, the Adair and Guthrie County Sheriff’s Offices, and the Iowa State Patrol. Upon their arrival, they located a deceased adult female outside the address.

Iowa State Trooper Chase Carruthers was among the first to arrive. Shortly after doing so, Trooper Carruthers encountered an adult male, identified as Austin Nichols Reed, 46, armed with a shotgun. During the encounter, Trooper Carruthers was shot by Reed. Other officers were able to take Reed into custody without further incident.

Officers on scene rendered emergency aid to Trooper Carruthers, who was transported to a Des Moines area hospital. Trooper Carruthers is in stable condition but continues to be hospitalized and is receiving ongoing medical treatment.

The deceased adult female was later identified as Toni Elena-Ann Salazar, 42. Her death is being treated as a homicide.

Austin Nichols Reed has been charged with Murder in the 1st degree, a Class A Felony and Attempted Murder of a Police Officer, a Class B Felony.

Trooper Chase Carruthers has been with the Department of Public Safety since December of 2025.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Major Crime Unit will be assisting the Stuart Police Department with the investigation.

Note: A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Photo Trooper Carruthers

Booking Photo Reed

Complaint and Affidavit - Salazar (84.23 KB) .pdf

Complaint and Affidavit - Carruthers (177.46 KB) .pdf

ABOUT THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

The Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) is the largest law enforcement agency in the state. It includes six divisions and several bureaus, all working together with local, state and federal government agencies and the private sector, to keep Iowa a safe place by following our core values: leadership, integrity, professionalism, courtesy, service and protection. Divisions within the Iowa DPS: Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa State Fire Marshal Division, Iowa Division of Intelligence and Fusion Center, and Administrative Services Division. The Department of Public Safety is led by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Governor.

Iowa Department of Public Safety

215 E 7th St

Des Moines IA 50319

https://dps.iowa.gov

Press Release Contact

Darrell Simmons, Special Agent In Charge

Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation

Email Address

[email protected]

Website(s)

Iowa DCI

Phone(s)

Primary

712.322.1585

Release text attributed to Iowa Department of Public Safety. Consult the official publication for any subsequent corrections or updates.