On 5 November 2026 at the main United States Postal Service office in Des Moines, Iowa, several people were injured after a shooting, police said.

Des Moines police received multiple calls from inside the building reporting that someone was shooting on the second floor shortly after 9 a.m. local time.

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Three people were hospitalised with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.

One victim made their own way to the nearby MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center, which sits directly across the street. A suspect was detained just outside the facility at 1165 Second Avenue.

Des Moines Police Sgt. Paul Parizek told reporters that the first officers arrived within about three minutes. “We’re secure right now,” he said, adding that he saw nothing to indicate life-threatening injuries. Police do not believe there was a second shooter, though they continued to search the building as a precaution.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said she was in contact with the Department of Public Safety and that the suspected shooter was in custody.

The post office, located just north of downtown and roughly a mile from the state capitol, had been open for about an hour when the incident began. Multiple agencies, including the Des Moines Police Department, Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa State Patrol, responded to the scene.

Traffic was diverted in the area while the investigation continued. Names of the suspect and the injured have not been released.

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The motive remains unclear. Authorities described the situation as initially reported as an active shooter but quickly secured once the suspect was in custody. Further details are expected as the inquiry progresses.