Police officers and deputies involved in the fatal shooting of a suspect, who authorities say shot at law enforcement several times on Interstate 80 in April, were justified in using lethal force, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird said.

The incident happened in the early morning on April 15, when a deputy pulled over Vonderrick Rayford for excessive speeding near Earlham, according to the May 29 report. Rayford, 51, of Milwaukee, was on the run after shooting a woman in the head and shooting at a police officer in Colorado Springs on April 13, according to the report.

Rayford had stolen the car he was driving and had a stolen handgun on him, the report said.

Once he was pulled over, Rayford, who had previously been convicted of assaulting a peace officer and dangerous use of a weapon, began shooting at Dallas County deputy Jacob Spurrell, the report said. Rayford also shot at other responding officers who responded to Spurrell’s call of “shots fired,” according to the report.

Rayford eventually put his hands up and dropped the gun. Officers asked Rayford to back away from the gun, but he ignored them.

Rayford eventually picked up the gun and raised it at officers when they were within a few feet of him, the report said.

Five officers from different agencies, including the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, Adair County Sheriff’s Office, Stuart Police Department and Adel Police Department, shot and killed Rayford, the report said. Law enforcement involved were deputies Spurrell and Eric Grimm from Dallas County; officer Shane Martinson from Stuart; deputy Tyler DeFrancisco from Adair County; and officer Joel Gummert from Adel. Officer Brandon Pickett from Adel attempted to fire but his gun malfunctioned, the report said.

Bird concluded the officers’ actions were justified.

“Rayford escalated a routine traffic stop into a deadly shooting that endangered the lives of multiple law enforcement officers and all other persons who were using the interstate that night,” Bird said in the report.

The incident shut down the interstate for hours during the morning commute.

José Mendiola is a breaking news reporter for the Register. Reach him at jmendiola@dmreg.com or follow him on X @mendiola_news.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – The Iowa National Guard continued deployment ceremonies for units headed to the Middle East for tours of duty on Thursday in Cedar Rapids.

Friends and family members of soldiers from Charlie Company, 224th Brigade Engineer Battalion in Cedar Rapids attended the ceremony. Those soldiers are headed to the Middle East to support Operation Inherent Resolve. It’s the military’s name for the international effort to defeat the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

Officials say these send-offs are a vital tradition.

Commander Justus Knudsen says the ceremony is a way for those people to better understand why these soldiers are being sent off. He also says emotions among soldiers are mixed.

“They’re excited…everyone’s kind of excited, nervousness. There’s a lot going on to take in all at once. I think that kind of bring everyone together and gets you over that hump of uncertainty,” said Commander Knudsen.

A total of 1,800 soldiers from all around Iowa are heading to the Middle East this week.

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