by: Jenna Curren 2024-07-02

WATERLOO, IA - Authorities with the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) confirmed that an armed bicyclist fired his weapon at two responding police officers before being fatally shot.

According to CBS News, officers were dispatched shortly after 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 30th, on reports of an armed man in all-green clothes who was riding on a bicycle. The armed suspect has since been identified as 35-year-old Kelvin Lee Plain Jr. Responding officers spotted Plain in Sullivan park.

After realizing he was spotted by police, Plain fled on the bike and then on foot through the park. Officers first used a taser on Plain, which knocked him to the ground. The statement released by the Iowa DCI said that after being knocked to the ground by the taser, Plain fired a handgun at both officers.

The shots fired by Plain struck one officer who was still inside his police vehicle and struck another officer who was on foot. Both officers responded by discharging their duty weapons, killing Plain. The incident was captured by Waterloo Police Department (WPD) vehicle dash-cam.

Both officers were transported to the hospital and were listed in stable condition as of Monday, July 1st. Plain was pronounced dead on scene. According to the Gazette, investigators closed off several blocks around the area where the shooting took place, including a large part of Sullivan Park.

Neighbors began to gather in the area, including Plain's mother. She said in a statement, "My son was shot and killed ... I just wanted to stay down here long enough until they picked my baby's body off the ground, and I did that." She said that she is still trying to make sense to what happened, saying, "They said he was running through the park and the police tased him, and they say my son ended up shooting two of the police officers after he was down on the ground. But there's a bicycle, and his shoes are still over there in the park."

The incident remains an active investigation. DCI said in a statement, "No additional information will be released at this time. Upon completion, the results of the investigation will be forwarded to the Blackhawk County Attorney's Office and the Iowa Attorney General's Office for review."

According to KCRG, court records show that Plain has been convicted of four felony cases, which means he is not legally allowed to own a gun. His most recent felony was in 2014 when he rammed his car into a police car. He was sentenced to 10 years for assaulting a police officer.

Court records indicate that when Plain was released from prison, he committed more crimes in as few as three years. He was awaiting trial for an April arrest for interference with official acts when he ran from and then fought with U.S. Marshalls.

The Des Moines Police Department posted a message to social media, supporting the Waterloo officers that had been shot and the department as a whole, saying, "We Stand With You. The men and women of the DMPD offer their support to and stand with the fellow officers, family, & friends of the Waterloo Police Department police officers shot in the line of duty today."

https://lawenforcementtoday.com/armed-guy-on-a-bicycle-shoots-2-police-officers