Todd Sulsberger and Walter Sulsberger Hornick, Iowa Shooting: Father, son dead after police standoff in Woodbury County.
Following a standoff and firearm engagement with law officers in northwest Iowa on Sunday night, a father and son have died.
At approximately 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Todd Sulsberger, 72, called the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office to report that his 44-year-old son Walter Sulsberger was shooting at him at a house close to Old Highway 141. Sheriff Chad Sheehan made this announcement during a press conference on Monday. The son was still at the site when the police came, threatening them and stating there would be no peaceful conclusion.
According to Sheehan, the sheriff’s office asked the Iowa State Patrol, the Sioux City Police Department, and other organizations for more help.
While on the phone with a crisis negotiator at 2:45 a.m. on Monday, Sheehan reported that Walter fired rounds at the tactical team attempting to move in to take him into custody. At that point, according to Sheehan, officials retaliated by punching him. Walter passed away at the site despite receiving medical attention.
Although Todd’s cause of death was not disclosed, he was likewise declared dead at the scene.
The father’s death and the shooting incident involving the officer are being looked into by the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations.
