DES MOINES, Iowa — An officer-involved shooting in Webster County last week that injured one suspect has been ruled justified.

Webster County Sheriff Luke Fleener revealed more information Thursday about the shooting and disclosed the results of the DCI’s investigation in a news release.

The April 7th shooting was the result of an incident that began when WCSO was dispatched to a domestic disturbance in Gowrie involving a man who had been drinking. The man, who Sheriff Fleener identified as 41-year-old Shawn Marshall, left the location before deputies arrived, and they were informed he had a gun in his truck and might harm himself or others.

Deputies located the truck Marshall was driving, and a chase began that went through Dayton and the southern part of the county. Stop sticks and a PIT maneuver led to the disabling of Marshall’s truck near River Road and Highway 175.

As deputies approached Marshall’s truck, they ordered him to put his hands up. The WCSO said Marshall reached down to the passenger seat and told deputies he was getting his gun, then made a shooting motion toward a deputy through the back window of the truck.

A WCSO deputy fired one shot through the back passenger window, hitting Marshall in the right hand.

Sheriff Fleener said the deputy who fired the shot was Matt Miller, who has 1 1/2 years of law enforcement experience with the WCSO..

The Sac County Attorney’s Office conducted the official review of the officer-involved shooting in order to avoid a conflict of interest. Based on the investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the SCAO concluded the use of reasonable and deadly force was justified.

Sac County Attorney Ben Smith provided a statement about the investigation.

“Based on the totality of the evidence—including body-worn and dash camera footage, witness statements, dispatch records, and forensic reports—the Sac County Attorney’s Office concludes that Deputy Matthew Miller’s use of reasonable and deadly force on April 7, 2025, was justified under Iowa Code §§ 704.1 and 704.3. His actions were reasonable, proportionate, and necessary to neutralize an imminent threat posed by Shawn Marshall. Not only did Deputy Miller’s actions meet the legal requirements for using deadly force, but he also demonstrated professionalism and extraordinary situational awareness throughout the incident.”

Sac County Attorney Ben Smith

Deputy Miller will be allowed to return to active duty after completing a psychological review, per department policy.

Sheriff Fleener said Marshall remains hospitalized due to his injuries. Criminal charges are pending in the incident.