The Iowa Attorney General’s Office has announced that the actions from an officer-involved fatal shooting were justified in Greene County.

According to the AG’s report, Jefferson Police Officer Shaydon Thurman was trying to conduct a traffic stop at 1:25am on July 26th for careless driving, speeding and two stop sign violations. The report states that the driver, identified as Keegan Kennedy, began to elude the officer by driving down various streets in what was later discovered as a stolen vehicle from Jefferson.

The Attorney General’s Office says the chase exited city limits, heading west on 245th Street, when Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy Zach Barden joined the pursuit. The report shows that the suspect’s vehicle was starting to decelerate and angled toward a ditch, but before the vehicle came to a stop, Kennedy was seen jumping from it and he started running toward Thurman’s patrol vehicle on the driver’s side.

It was reported that Kennedy was holding what was later identified as short, fixed-blade knife above his head, while wearing pants, a hoody with the hood drawn over his head, while also wearing a mask and gloves. The AG’s Office states that Officer Thurman was able to get out of his vehicle and fired his gun at the attacker, and Kennedy continued advancing around to the driver’s side and stabbed Thurman in the left side of his face. 

The AG’s Office points out that Thurman pushed Kennedy off of him and continued firing until Kennedy was no longer a threat. Deputy Barden arrived on scene after the attack and started performing life saving measures on Kennedy until paramedics arrived, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Thurman was then treated for his injuries at a hospital.

During the investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, a passenger was also seen inside the vehicle Kennedy was driving and the juvenile fled on foot from the scene and into a cornfield. Authorities found the individual around 3am, which the person denied any involvement. It was also discovered from Kennedy’s family that a week prior to July 26th, Keegan indicated that if he was approached by law enforcement he would commit “suicide by cop.” Other agencies involved included the Carroll and Calhoun County Sheriff’s Offices, the Jefferson Fire Department, Greene County Ambulance and the Iowa State Patrol assisted the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, the Jefferson Police Department and the DCI with the incident. 

Click here to see the full report.