DES MOINES, Iowa —

Authorities say a United States Postal Service employee shot two people Thursday morning at the main post office in Des Moines.

Those two victims, plus another person who was injured in a fall during the shooting, are being treated at local hospitals. None of the victims’ injuries are believed to be life-threatening.

Des Moines police Sgt. Paul Parizek said the shooting was reported around 9:10 a.m. Thursday at 1165 Second Ave., a processing and distribution facility for the United States Postal Service. He said authorities were on the scene within 3 minutes of the report— part of a “massive response.”

Officers took the suspected shooter, who he said was an adult female employee at the postal facility, into custody 11 minutes later under the Interstate 235 bridge. She has not yet been publicly identified, and authorities do not yet know what led up to the shooting.

He said two of the victims are female and one is male — all employees at the postal facility.

This is a breaking news story. KCCI will provide updates as we learn more.

Watch: Des Moines police provide update on USPS shootingDes Moines schools temporarily in secure status

Des Moines Public Schools temporarily went into secure status Thursday morning following the shooting. In a Facebook post, DMPS officials said:

Around 9:20 a.m., police reported a shooting at the downtown post office located at 2nd Street and University Avenue.

Des Moines police notified our staff immediately, and nearby Carver Elementary School, the DMPS Welcome Center and the Central Nutrition Center went into a Secure. A Secure means no one is allowed in or out of the building.

Police reported having the suspect in custody nearby at 9:30 a.m. and are actively investigating at the post office. They notified our staff that it was safe to resume allowing people in and out of Carver Elementary School, the DMPS Welcome Center and the Central Nutrition Center at 10:00 a.m. The Secure has been lifted at these buildings.

This message was sent earlier via ParentSquare. Thank you for your patience and support as we worked to keep our families and staff safe.

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Iowa leaders react to USPS shootingUPDATE: Eric Hanson covers shooting at United States Postal Service in Des MoinesRAW VIDEO: Authorities on scene of shooting at United States Postal Service in Des MoinesDes Moines post office shooting: Police say alleged shooter detainedReynolds ‘grateful for immediate response by law enforcement’

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I’m in contact with the Department of Public Safety regarding a shooting at the Main Post Office in Des Moines. The suspected shooter is in custody and the investigation is ongoing.

We are monitoring the situation and our prayers are with everyone involved. Grateful for the…

— Gov. Kim Reynolds (@IAGovernor) November 5, 2026
Nunn ‘closely monitoring’ Des Moines shooting

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I’m closely monitoring reports of the shooting at the USPS facility in Des Moines.

My prayers are with the victims, their families, and everyone impacted by this tragedy. Grateful to the law enforcement officers and first responders on the scene.https://t.co/MSdJ6W5CUX

— Congressman Zach Nunn (@ZachNunn) November 5, 2026
Chuck Grassley ‘praying for all those impacted’

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Im following news of the shooting this morning at the Main Post Office in Des Moines Gr8ful to law enforcement + first responders who acted quickly 2 detain the shooter + treat the injured Barbara & I are praying for all those impacted

— Chuck Grassley (@ChuckGrassley) November 5, 2026