The Iowa Attorney General’s Office announced on Apr. 1 that two Des Moines Police Officers were legally justified in the fatal shooting of Hunter Thomas Munoz on February 19 near the Crisis Observation Center in Des Moines.
The report matters because it addresses concerns about police use of force and follows a thorough investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation into an incident involving mental health, public safety, and law enforcement response.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, officers responded to a call reporting that Munoz had stabbed a security guard at the Crisis Observation Center. Officer Christian Escobar was first to arrive and found Munoz outside with visible injuries but unarmed at that moment. When ordered to surrender, Munoz refused, saying, “you’re going to have to shoot me,” before advancing toward officers.
Officers David Chase and James Gano soon arrived; Chase attempted non-lethal force with a Taser as Munoz produced a stiletto knife and charged at Escobar. Both Escobar and Gano fired their weapons. Officers secured Munoz immediately after he fell and began life-saving measures before he was transported to the hospital where he died from his injuries.
Investigators found that Munoz had been brought by family for a mental health evaluation but attacked a security officer during intake procedures with a concealed knife. Despite efforts by staff—including deploying pepper spray—to stop him, Munoz exited the building where he encountered police.
All other staff members and patients remained safe due to lockdown protocols. The injured security officer was hospitalized with critical injuries but later stabilized and released; his recovery continues.
The report concludes that “Des Moines Police Officers Christian Escobar and James Gano were justified in their use of deadly force against Hunter Thomas Munoz. The officers went into a known violent situation and attempted numerous methods of de-escalation before Munoz ran at them with a knife.” The review was conducted under independent authority granted by Iowa Code section 13.12.
