Lafayette Evans, 37

Fort Madison, Iowa
June 29, 2016

Agencies: Fort Madison Police Department Iowa

Cause of death: Shooting

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Last updated: over 5 years ago

Overview

An armed robbery Wednesday morning at the west end Fort Madison Bank & Trust branch office resulted in the death of the suspect.

About 10 a.m. Wednesday, Fort Madison police and Lee County Sheriff deputies responded to an emergency call at the bank.

Sheriff Deputy Steve Spraul, who was transporting a prisoner and was near the area, began tracking the suspected gunman with his squad car, according to lee County Jim Sholl.

“The suspect fired three shots at the vehicle and hit it twice,” Sholl said. “A Fort Madison police officer wounded the suspect with an AR-15.”

Spraul was not injured by the gunfire, but was covered by shards of glass and sought treatment at FMCH.

Sholl said no bank employee was injured, however City Manager David Varley said the suspect did fire his gun inside the bank.

“I know he shot into the ceiling to get people’s attention,” Varley said, adding that there were 3 to 4 people inside the bank at the time.

The suspect, which has not been identified was then taken by ambulance to Fort Madison Community Hospital where he later died.

Legal Action

The Iowa Attorney General’s Office ruled the shooting of Lafayette Evans as justifiable homicide under Iowa law, according to Special Assistant Attorney General Scott Brown of Des Moines. The ruling closed the state’s investigation of the officer-involved shooting.