Update on Cedar Rapids Police Department Officer-Involved Shooting

What this means

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - On September 22, 2026, the Cedar Rapids Police Department requested assistance from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) to investigate an officer involved shooting in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At approximately 3:05 p.m., Cedar Rapids Police received a 911 call reporting a male subject, later identified as Travis McDermott, 38, was displaying a firearm in a reckless manner near Oakland Road and H Avenue NE. Officers responded and located McDermott who was openly displaying a weapon.

Official release

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

Update on Cedar Rapids Police Department Officer-Involved Shooting

Thursday, September 24, 2026

Press Release

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September 24, 2026

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - On September 22, 2026, the Cedar Rapids Police Department requested assistance from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) to investigate an officer involved shooting in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

At approximately 3:05 p.m., Cedar Rapids Police received a 911 call reporting a male subject, later identified as Travis McDermott, 38, was displaying a firearm in a reckless manner near Oakland Road and H Avenue NE. Officers responded and located McDermott who was openly displaying a weapon. Despite efforts to de-escalate the situation, McDermott’s continued actions placed the officers in fear of immediate harm.

Two officers fired their service weapons at McDermott, striking him in the abdomen. Emergency medical care was provided on scene. McDermott was taken to an area hospital where he later died. The officers were not injured.

The two officers involved in the shooting have been placed on critical incident leave pending an investigative review by the Linn County Attorney’s Office and the Iowa Attorney General’s Office.

This is an ongoing criminal investigation, and no further details are being released at this time.

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

Joe Lestina, Special Agent In Charge

Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation

Email Address

[email protected]

Phone(s)

Primary

319.385.9261

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