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Man shot & killed by Des Moines Police during a stand-off, was from Nebraska

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August 1st, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Authorities have identified a man who was killed by Des Moines police officers after a report of a no-contact order violation turned into a chase and a shooting, early Tuesday morning. Sgt. Paul Parizek, spokesperson for Des Moines police, told KCCI, that officers responded around 3:30 a.m. to a home to investigate a report of a person violating a protective order. Police found the suspect, who has since been identified as 45-year-old Weston Dean Derby, from Bellevue, NE, driving near the scene and attempted to stop his vehicle.

The suspect then fled from officers, who started a pursuit. That pursuit ended about one mile away, when the suspect’s vehicle left the roadway to the south and got hung up in vegetation, according to law enforcement. Parizek said officers’ body camera footage shows the suspect attempting to flee from the officers on foot before pulling a handgun.

Two officers fired their service weapons. One of the officers was hit and the suspect was also hit in an exchange of cross-fire. Derby was pronounced dead at the scene.  The injured officer was in stable condition at a nearby hospital and expected to recover.