WATERLOO, Iowa – On Saturday, August 13, the Waterloo Police Department requested the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation to investigate an officer-involved shooting that occurred at about 4:30 p.m. near the intersection of Dubuque Road and Adrian Street in Waterloo. Officers with the Waterloo Police Department were originally called to the Flavor Shop at 2301 Lafayette Street on the report of a man waving a gun.  That man was later identified as Michael Ahrens, age 32, no permanent address.  Officers located Ahrens walking west on Dubuque Road and ordered him several times to drop the gun.

Officers fired less-than lethal rounds at Ahrens in an effort to get Ahrens to drop the gun and Ahrens continued to refuse.  Ahrens pointed the weapon at officers twice, after which two Waterloo police officers fired at Ahrens.  Ahrens was struck twice.  Ahrens was transported to the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics where he later died.
The weapon Ahrens held was later identified as an airsoft pistol.

Airsoft Pistol

Audio and video of the incident was captured on several Waterloo PD body cameras.  Upon completion of the investigation, the case report will be forwarded to the Blackhawk County Attorney’s Office for review.  The officers have been placed on paid administrative leave.