DES MOINES, Iowa — An employee who suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the new federal courthouse in Des Moines has died.

At around 8:30 a.m. on Monday the Des Moines Police Department responded to a report of a shooting with a victim at the new courthouse located at 111 Locust Street. According to police, the victim was an employee at the courthouse and suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

The United States District Court Southern District of Iowa announced Monday afternoon that despite life-saving measures being taken the employee died from his injuries at the hospital. The employee has been identified as United States Probation Officer Dan Velasco.

The United States District Court Southern District of Iowa released a statement about the shooting, which reads in part:

Dan joined our United States Probation Office nine years ago. He was a valued member of our court family. Our hearts go out to his family and friends in the wake of this tragedy.

Our court family is deeply impacted by Dan’s loss. We are processing the event and grieving together. We ask for time and space as we process this event.

United States District Court Southern District of Iowa

The shooting remains under investigation and no additional information has been released.

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