Charquan Mylick Hargrove – The Des Moines Police Department has released details regarding the fatal shooting of a suspect during a confrontation inside his southeast Des Moines home on January 2. The incident occurred in the 2100 block of Meadow Court when officers arrived around 5:30 p.m. to arrest Charquan Mylick Hargrove, a 32-year-old man with felony warrants. The warrants were for domestic abuse assault and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to Sgt. Paul Parizek, a spokesperson for the Des Moines police, body camera footage showed Hargrove attempting to flee from the officers before firing a gun at them. In response, two officers, identified as Brian Stern, a five-year veteran, and Nicholas Rude, a two-year veteran, returned fire, resulting in Hargrove’s death. Neither officer sustained injuries in the incident.
Following protocol in use-of-force cases, Stern and Rude have been placed on administrative assignment while the investigation continues. This incident marks the fourth fatal officer-involved shooting in Des Moines since July.
The shooting occurred in the Southern Meadows neighborhood, where residents were shocked by the heavy police presence. On January 3, the aftermath of the event was still evident with footprints in the snow and a piece of police tape fluttering in the wind.
Ceslee McDonald, a 25-year-old resident living nearby, expressed her surprise at the scene, recalling how police lights illuminated the neighborhood during dinner. She noted that the area is usually quiet, and the intense police activity was unexpected and startling.
McDonald described Hargrove as a neighbor who appeared to be kind and non-aggressive. She shared that during the summer, he was always friendly when she and her two daughters, who have disabilities, were outside playing. McDonald emphasized that she never felt threatened by him and considered him a good person who did not seem likely to cause harm.
The Des Moines community continues to process the event as the investigation unfolds. Authorities have yet to release additional information regarding the circumstances leading to the shooting.