The man who was shot Thursday night after pointing a handgun at a Webster City police officer was a former state corrections officer, according to an official.
Fred Scaletta, a spokesman for the Iowa Department of Corrections, said Justin M. Jensen was a corrections officer for four to five years. He said Jensen's employment ended about three weeks ago. He was unable to provide any other information on Jensen.
Jensen, 34, of Webster City, remains in critical condition at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, according to a hospital spokeswoman. He was shot by Sgt. Scot Ely.
The shooting incident remains under investigation, according to Webster City Police Chief Brian Hughes. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is in charge of the case. Hughes said Monday that the Police Department will also conduct an internal review.
Hughes has said he believes Ely was justified in shooting Jensen. Ely is on paid administrative leave until the investigation of the shooting is over.
Just after 9 p.m. Thursday, Ely was dispatched to Superior Street at the south end of Webster City in response to a complaint of a possible drunk driver. He saw a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu operated by Jensen and followed it south on Iowa Highway 17. Ely stopped Jensen's vehicle near the road that leads to Briggs Woods State Park.
''(Ely) approached the vehicle and observed an empty gun holster that was lying on the floor,'' Hughes said. ''He asked the driver to put his hands on the wheel, gave him several commands and none of them - he didn't get any compliance from that. So the driver exited his vehicle and started walking toward the officer with the weapon in his hand. It was a .45-caliber handgun. Eventually, the weapon was pointed at the sergeant and he discharged his weapon, I would say around six times.''
Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net