Randall Comly

As a grand jury federally indicted Randall Comly this week for the October officer-involved shooting in Stuart, the Adair County Attorney announced that no charges would be filed against law enforcement officers.

County Attorney Melissa S. Larsen states that on November 21st the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation referred their investigation file to her, requesting a legal review concerning the circumstances surrounding the use of lethal force by Stuart Police Officer Tyler DeFrancisco and Guthrie County Sheriff’s deputies Kent Gries and Steven Henry. On October 17th, the officers attempted to execute an arrest warrant on 52-year-old Comly. Larsen says there were over 50 exhibits including audio files, written statements and reports, videos; and interviews with the four officers present during the shooting, witnesses in or near the apartment at the time of the shooting, officers on scene after the shooting, and investigators.

Larsen’s findings show that during the incident, Gries requested deputy James Mink to retrieve his deputy K9 to assist. Comly, who was hiding in a bedroom closet, charged towards Gries and DeFrancisco while firing a .22 caliber handgun. Bullets struck areas on the wall and doorway near the officers’ heads. Gries and DeFrancisco returned fire and exited the apartment for cover. Henry was outside, near the bedroom window, after taking Joseph Reynolds from the apartment into custody for an arrest warrant. Henry fired his gun into the bedroom window.

Upon investigative review, Gries and DeFrancisco each likely fired 16 rounds and Henry fired six rounds all at Comly, while Comly fired all six rounds from his revolver at Gries and DeFrancisco. Larsen concludes that each of the three officers were justified in their use of deadly force during the encounter. To read the full letter from Larsen, visit here.