After an investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation into the shooting on April 15th on Interstate 80 in the Dallas and Guthrie County area, the Iowa Attorney General’s office declared the fatal shooting of Vonderrick Rayford by law enforcement officers as legally justified.

According to the report, at approximately 1:30am on April 15th, a Stuart Police Officer observed a silver sedan and dark Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) traveling at 98 miles per hour. A nearby Dallas County Sheriff’s Deputy assisted with stopping the two vehicles, with the deputy and sedan stopping first, and the officer and SUV stopping further down the road.

The report shows that Rayford was driving the sedan, and a later investigation revealed he had previous convictions for assaulting an officer and dangerous use of a weapon. Additionally, there was a warrant from Wisconsin where Rayford stole a firearm, along with stealing the vehicle from a woman in Colorado, who Rayford shot in the head. Then the report indicates that as the deputy was running Rayford’s license, the suspect exited his vehicle and began shooting at the deputy. As the phrase “shots fired” were broadcast on the communication radios, the Stuart Police Officer then returned to assist the deputy, followed by several other law enforcement officials, including an Adel Police Department officer, Adair County Deputy, and more Dallas County deputies.

Eventually, Rayford laid down his weapon and refused to obey commands to step away from the firearm, only to pick it up again and that is when several law officers and deputies fired shots at Rayford, where he then died at the scene.