“They’re all at the hospital”

“They’re all at the hospital”

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Des Moines Post Office Shooting Leaves Three Injured, Suspect in Custody

“They’re all at the hospital. They are being cared for right now,” Des Moines police Sgt. Paul Parizek said, confirming the chaotic scene at the city’s main post office on Thursday morning. A 39-year-old female postal worker opened fire on two female coworkers, critically injuring both before being captured nearby, authorities reported.

The Associated Press, which broke the story, detailed that the suspect, identified as Jennifer Christine Pledger of West Des Moines, allegedly stood over one of her victims and fired again as she fled the building. A third employee, a 55-year-old man, suffered injuries from a fall while trying to escape. None of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening, with all three victims in stable condition at a local hospital.

Attack Erupts at Facility

The violence erupted around 9:10 a.m. on the facility’s second floor, an area not accessible to the public. Witnesses reported hearing a barrage of 10 to 12 shots in quick succession. ABC News corroborated the timeline, noting that police responded within three minutes and apprehended Pledger without resistance along a nearby bike path just 11 minutes after the first call. A 9 mm handgun was recovered at the scene of her capture.

According to the AP, Pledger now faces serious charges, including two counts of attempted murder and two counts of willful injury causing serious injury. Authorities have not yet released information on a possible attorney for her, and attempts to reach her relatives were unsuccessful.

Community on Lockdown

The post office’s location—just north of downtown Des Moines and across from one of the city’s main hospitals—put it in a densely populated area. In an abundance of caution, Des Moines Public Schools temporarily locked down the nearby elementary school, welcome center, and nutrition center, preventing anyone from entering or leaving. Those restrictions were lifted shortly after police confirmed the suspect was in custody.

West Des Moines woman charged after Des Moines post office shooting

Gov. Kim Reynolds addressed the incident on social media, stating, “We are monitoring the situation and our prayers are with everyone involved. Grateful for the immediate response by law enforcement.” The U.S. Postal Inspection Service confirmed it is investigating alongside local, state, and federal agencies to determine the motive and circumstances that led to the shooting.

A History of Violence and a Myth Debunked

This tragic event revives a dark chapter in American workplace history, one that gave rise to the infamous phrase “going postal.” Both the AP and ABC News pointed to past shootings at postal facilities as a catalyst for change. In 1986, a disgruntled postal worker in Edmond, Oklahoma, killed 14 colleagues before taking his own life. Five years later, a fired worker in Royal Oak, Michigan, murdered four former coworkers before turning the gun on himself.

Jennifer Christine Pledger shot two coworkers at Des Moines post office
Photo: abcnews.com

These horrific events prompted the U.S. Postal Service to commission a comprehensive study on workplace violence, released in the year 2000. The landmark report issued several recommendations for identifying and preventing violent behavior, while also concluding that the stereotype of postal workers as prone to rage was a myth. The study found that, statistically, postal employees are less violent than the national workforce. Despite these findings and subsequent reforms, isolated attacks have continued, including a 2006 shooting in Goleta, California, where a former postal worker killed six people before committing suicide.

The focus shifts to the recovery of the victims, the legal proceedings against the postal worker, and past Postal Service studies on employee safety.

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