Press Conference Monday, April 11th, 2011

Press ConferenceMonday, April 11th, 2011

• Keokuk County Sheriff Jeff Shipley

• Keokuk County Attorney John Schroeder

• Deputy Attorney General Thomas H. Miller

• ISP Colonel Patrick Hoye

• DCI Director John Quinn

Sgt. Eric Stein

• Sgt. Eric Stein

• Proudly Serving the Keokuk County Sheriff’s Office since 2000.

• Promoted to Sgt. in 2005

RECENT CONTACT BY THE KEOKUK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE WITH

JEFFREY ALAN KRIER

Jeffrey Alan KrierDOB: March 30, 1958

Krier’s Criminal Convictions

• 1980 OWI

• 1985 Disorderly Conduct

• 1986 OWI

• 1987 Concealed Weapon

• 1988 Carrying Weapons

• 1988 Probation Violation

• 1993 OWI

• 1994 Driving While Suspended

February 28, 2011

• A court order for the detention of Jeffrey Krier is sought by his family members.

• Order states that Jeffrey is alleged to be Seriously Mentally Impaired.

• Keokuk Co. Sheriff’s Office Deputy transports Krier to the Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa.

Friday, April 1st, 2011

• At approximately 9:30 PM, April 1, 2011, Krier places a phone call to the Keokuk County Hospital and requests to speak with an particular employee.

• When Krier is advised the employee is not available, Krier becomes upset and makes threatening statements and indicates that “we” have weapons.

• The Keokuk County SO is notified of the call by Krier.

Sunday Morning, April 3rd, 2011• At approximately 4:19 a.m. Krier calls the Keokuk Co

SO indicating that his wife Melissa Gentry, 36 years old, had been kidnapped and was taken to Texas.

• Deputy Runnells was notified of Krier’s call to the SO and calls Krier’s cell phone.

• Krier, while driving around in his vehicle, informs Runnells that his wife Melissa Gentry has been kidnapped and is in Texas.

• As Deputy Runnells attempts to clarify information, Krier becomes agitated and his statements are incoherent.

• Deputy Runnells instructs Krier to go home and go to bed.

Sunday morning, April 3rd, 2011

• At 5:35 AM the Keokuk Co SO receives a call from Mike Rankin advising that a subject who identified himself as Jeff Krier had entered his home and was looking for “Melissa Gentry”.

• At 7:18 AM Chief Deputy Hinnah arrived at the Rankin residence to take a report of the incident.

• Rankin indicated he had never met Krier before. • Rankin stated that Krier searched the house and then

left in a truck when he did not find Melissa.

Sunday evening, April 3rd, 2011

• At 7:30 p.m. the Steinhart family contacts the Keokuk Co SO and advises that someone had shot up their house and tore up their yard.

• Deputy Jeff Runnells processes the scene and determines there were 20 rounds fired into the house and garage. Rusty cans and 9 mm. shell casings, which appeared to be related to the incident, were found in the yard.

• Deputy Runnells also discovers blue paint transfer on the damaged garage door.

• The Krier residence is approximately 1 ¼ mile from the Steinhart residence.

Monday Morning, April 4th, 2011• Sheriff Shipley, Chief Deputy Hinnah and Sgt. Stein discuss

the events of the weekend and are concerned that Krier may be suffering from mental health issues.

• Officers contact Keokuk County Attorney John Schroeder and advise him of their concerns.

• Officers decide to make contact with Krier to check on his mental status and to look for evidence that would tie Krier to the shooting events of the previous night.

• Sheriff Shipley places a call to Krier’s home phone at 10:35 AM, and 10:38 AM. Krier answers and advises that he is willing to meet with officers.

• At the end of the conversation Krier states that officers need to kill the person in the black “dually” truck. He then hangs up on Sheriff Shipley.

April 4, 2011 cont.• Sheriff Shipley, Deputy Hinnah and Deputy Stein leave

the Keokuk County SO and proceed to Krier’s residence located at 18327 249th St. in rural Sigourney, Iowa.

• Sheriff Shipley and Deputy Hinnah depart the Sheriff’s Office in Sheriff Shipley’s white F-150. Deputy Hinnah is driving. Sgt. Stein follows in his Ford Explorer.

• Sheriff Shipley continues attempts to make contact with Krier on their way to Krier’s residence. Krier does not answer.

• At approximately 11:32 AM Sheriff Shipley places a call to Krier as they drive up the lane to the Krier residence.

April 4, 2011 cont.

• Upon arrival at the Krier residence, Sheriff Shipley exits his vehicle and approaches the residence.

• Sheriff Shipley announces to Krier that he is here and would like to speak with Krier. Krier does not reply. Sheriff Shipley attempts this a few times and then returns to the pickup.

• Sgt. Stein then gets on the PA and requests that Krier come out. Krier still does not respond.

• Officers observe a blue vehicle with rusty cans in the back, that appears to match the incident from Sunday night at the Steinhart residence.

April 4, 2011 cont.

• Officers discuss if anyone can see Krier. Sgt. Stein advises he sees Krier in the window. Seconds later, Sgt. Stein advises that Krier has a gun.

• Officers take cover in their vehicles, at which time Krier begins to fire at the officers and disables their vehicles.

April 4, 2011 cont.

• Officers retreat to the rear of Sgt. Stein’s SUV for cover.

• Sgt. Stein has his AR-15 rifle and is able to return fire at the residence. Gun fire is exchanged between Krier and Sgt. Stein for an undetermined amount of time. Ultimately Krier stops firing, and so does Sgt. Stein.

• Officers are initially unsure if Krier is alive, dead or wounded.

• Officers are able to hear Krier inside the residence, but unable to hear what he is yelling due to the wind and the fact that he is still inside the residence.

• Officers are unaware of where Krier is located inside the residence.

• At 11:42 AM, Sgt. Stein has his radio for communications, and advises “shots fired”.

April 4, 2011 cont.

• Officers from numerous agencies are en route to assist the three officers.

• It is decided, and in agreement by the three officers, that they do not want anyone to come up the drive and get them, as it would be potentially fatal for responding officers.

• At approximately 12:19 PM Sgt. Stein advises approaching officers to turn off their sirens, he is low on ammunition, and to refrain from approaching.

April 4, 2011 cont.• Within 2-3 minutes of Sgt. Stein’s radio communication,

Krier exits his residence.• The officers on scene advise they believe they hear a door

shutting, but are unsure of the sound due to the high winds.

• Officers are on alert and looking for Krier.• Chief Deputy Hinnah is the first to see Krier, as Krier uses

the Sheriff’s vehicle for cover. Deputy Hinnah observes Krier with a long-gun and fires at Krier.

• Krier returns fire. One of the rounds travels through Sgt. Stein’s SUV and strikes Sgt. Stein in the head.

• Sheriff Shipley and Deputy Hinnah take cover behind Sgt. Stein’s SUV and return fire.

April 4, 2011 cont.

• Krier stops shooting and departs from the area of the Sheriff’s vehicles.

• Sheriff Shipley and Chief Deputy Hinnah continue to look for Krier and finally observe Krier near the south entrance of the residence.

• Sheriff Shipley and Chief Deputy Hinnah can see that Sgt. Stein is deceased and make the difficult decision to leave Sgt. Stein and retreat to the safety of arriving officers.

• As Deputy Hinnah and Sheriff Shipley are retreating, Krier fires more rounds at them making statement to the effect of “come on back you sons-a-bitches”.

April 4, 2011 cont.

• Sheriff Shipley and Deputy Hinnah make their way to the end of the driveway and advise officers of Sgt. Stein’s condition.

ISP Tactical Teams

ISP Tactical Team Deployed

• Multiple agencies arrive in support of this operation and assist in the deployment of ISP Tactical team members.

• 4, two-man teams are deployed around the Krier residence.

• 2 teams deploy on the north and east sides of the residence, while two other teams deploy on the southeast and south sides.

ISP Tactical Team Positions

Negotiations

• ISP negotiators are unable to make personal contact with Jeff Krier; however, ISP is later able to communicate with him through his brother.

• Although negotiators were working towards a peaceful resolution, Krier was unwilling to cooperate.

Tactical Team #1

• At or about 3:30 PM on Monday April 4, 2011, Tactical Team #1 observes Krier exit the north door on the east side of the residence.

• Team #1 observes him loading a rifle, sending the bolt forward, chambering a round, and preparing to fire.

• Tactical Team #1 fires one round at an approximate distance of 280 yards with their Remington 700 rifle (308 cal.), striking Krier in the right arm and damaging the rifle carried by Krier.

Tactical Team #2 • Tactical team #2 had made its way to the barn on the south

side of the residence. • After observing Krier exit with a weapon and hearing the

shot fired, it too fires upon Krier. • Tactical Team #2 fires on Krier with a Colt AR-15 (.223 Cal).

Team #2 then advances toward Krier. • Tactical Team #2 fires again from a second position, half way

between the barn and the residence. Tactical Team #2 continues to advance toward Krier.

• From a third and final position, Tactical Team #2 fires again, resulting in the death of Jeffrey Krier.

Tactical Team #2

Tactical Team #3

• Tactical Team #3 is positioned in a grove of trees east of the residence (same direction Krier was traveling when initial shot was fired by Sniper Team #1).

• As Krier runs to the north for cover, Tactical Team #3 fires at Krier with a Colt AR-15 (.223 cal).

Subject Neutralized

Autopsy Results

Autopsy of Sgt. Eric Stein

• The autopsy of Sgt. Eric Stein was conducted at the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny, Iowa on April 5, 2011 by Dr. Dennis Klein.

• Sgt. Stein died from a single, 12 gauge slug to the head.

Autopsy of Jeffrey Krier

• On Wednesday, April 6, 2011, the autopsy of Jeffrey Krier was conducted by the State Medical Examiners Office in Ankeny, Iowa.

• Krier died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds.

Crime Scene Processing

Crime Scene Processing

• A search warrant was obtained on Monday, April 4, 2011 for the residence of 18327 249th

St. Sigourney, Iowa.

• During the execution of the search warrant, DCI’s Crime Scene Team (CST) was assisted by DCI Agents and Agents from the ATF.

• CST seized and photographed numerous spent firearm cartridges from both Krier and Law Enforcement.

White Ford F-150

• The Sheriff’s vehicle was shot 7 times. These shots disabled the vehicle.

Ford Explorer

• The Ford Explorer, driven by Sgt. Stein, was shot 23 times. These shots disabled the Ford Explorer.

Total rounds fired by Krier

• 49 rounds were fired by Krier.

– 14 rounds were fired from a 12 gauge shot gun from outside the residence.

– 35 rounds were fired from various caliber long guns from inside the residence.

Shot Gun Shell Casings

• Nine, 12 gauge shot gun slug shell casings were located beside the driver’s side door of the Sheriff’s vehicle.

• These casings are remnants of shots fired by Krier at the officers from approximately 15 yards away.

• One of these shots struck, and resulted in the death of, Sgt. Stein.

Total Rounds Fired by Officers

• 115 Rounds.

– 90 Rounds by Keokuk Co SO

– 25 Rounds by ISP Tact Team

Weapons Inside Krier’s Residence

• Large Knife and a Hatchet were found just inside the northeast door to the residence.

• 7 long guns:

– (3) R-P 22-250 REM Rifles

– (1) 12 ga. Federal Shot Gun

– (3) FC 45-70 govt Rifles

Weapons Carried by Krier at the Time of His Death

• 9 mm Ruger Hand Gun

• 12 guage 870 Remington shot gun

• 30-06 Rifle

Duration of Initial Shooting Incident Between Keokuk County Deputies and

Krier:

• Approximately 45 minutes.

• 139 rounds fired.

Responding Agencies

Responding Agencies

• Keokuk Co SO• Sigourney PD• Keokuk Co. Conservation• Iowa State Patrol• Ottumwa PD• Wapello PD• Jefferson Co SO• Fairfield PD• Iowa DNE• Iowa DCI• Task Force• Ottumwa ERT• Mahaska Co SO

Responding Agencies Cont.

• Poweshiek Co SO• Washington Co. SO• Van Buren Co. SO• Washington Co Swat• Poweshiek Co Swat• Polk Co SO• Iowa DNR• Sigourney Fire• Keokuk Ambulance • Life Flight• ATF