Content warning: This article contains details of a police-involved shooting.
The fatal shooting of a man by Cedar Rapids Police Department officers on April 6 was justified, according to a report issued on Monday by the Iowa Attorney General’s Office. Three CRPD officers fired their weapons at 39-year-old David Vanderhamm after Vanderhamm pointed the weapon he was carrying at one of the officers. After the shooting, it was “discovered that the weapon was a black Sig MPX CO2 air rifle with the stock removed,” the report states.
Vanderhamm suffered from mental illness, and his family attempted to have him hospitalized hours before the shooting.
“Officers were justified in using deadly force against Vanderhamm to end the continuing threat to the lives and safety that he posed to officers and nearby civilians,” the AG’s Office concluded.
John Coppes, Vadnerhamm’s stepfather who was at the scene of the shooting and had been trying calm down Vanderhamm and deescalate the confrontation with the police, told investigators that his stepson wanted to commit suicide by cop. Coppes was hit by two of the bullets fired by the three CRPD officers, and had to be hospitalized for his injuries.
The shooting happened during the second encounter between CRPD officers and Vanderhamm on April 6.
At 2:20 p.m. that day, Vandenhamm’s mother called 911, asking for help getting her son to the hospital for a mental health evaluation. Charlotte Coppes told the dispatcher “her son had access to a firearm and described him as paranoid and violent,” according to the report’s summary of events. Two CRPD officers went to Coppes’ home in northeast Cedar Rapids, and persuaded Vandenhamm to go to the hospital with his mother.
Once at the hospital, Vandenhamm refused treatment and left.
“At and after approximately 6:37 p.m. the same day, Vanderhamm made several 911 calls requesting that officers come to his home,” the report states. “During these calls, Vanderhamm made statements about wanting to fight with officers, that he was going to ‘kill you all,’ and that he was a junkie and did not deserve to live. Dispatch was again advised by Ms. Coppes that Vanderhamm had a gun and can be heard saying, ‘David don’t. David don’t.’ Vanderhamm can be overheard saying ‘headshot, I’m not aiming for knees.’”
Several CRPD officers responded to the call. Vanderhamm had exited his home and was in the street, when the officers arrived. His stepfather was with him, attempting to calm him down. Officers saw that Vanderhamm was holding what they believed to be a gun in his right hand. As they approached him, Vanderhamm began to walk away. The officers issued multiple commands for Vanderhamm to drop his weapon. Vanderhamm refused, and pointed the weapon at Sgt. Alex Hass.
Hass, Officer Emily Habeck and Officer Skylar Mullins all fired their weapons at Vanderhamm, striking him multiple times. They also struck Coppes, who was standing nearby. The AG’s report does not say how many rounds officers fired.
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) conducted the investigation into the fatal shooting and submitted its report to the Iowa Attorney General’s Office.
“Vanderhamm’s actions set in motion and continued the circumstances that gave rise to reasonable fears that the lives of responding officers, and others in his vicinity, were in grave danger,” the AG’s Office said. “The use of deadly force was therefore justified.”
The AG’s report was released on the same day an Iowa City Police Department officer shot a person while responding to a call about “an armed suicidal subject,” according to the department’s description of the incident. That person was wounded and transported to a hospital for treatment. DCI is currently investigating the shooting. The officer who shot the individual “will remain on paid administrative leave during the duration of the investigation,” ICPD said.
