A shootout in West Ames led to state charges against two men. Karl J. Flagg, 40, and Quintin Evans, 31, were both charged in June after exchanging gunfire on Franklin Avenue.
The exchange of gunfire led to state charges against both men. Ames Police first responded to the 200 block of Franklin Avenue around 10:43 p.m. on June 1, according to the City of Ames. The department asked the public to submit tips through Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa. Police initially said there was no ongoing public safety threat and described both men's injuries as non-life-threatening.
A Chase Down the Street
Evans was trying to visit a nearby house when Flagg retrieved a handgun and pursued him down the street while exchanging fire, as reported by WeAreIowa. Video footage reviewed by police showed Flagg following Evans and firing three additional rounds as Evans ran away, the station reported. On June 23, Ames Police charged Flagg with attempted murder and felon in possession of a firearm, while Evans was charged with felon in possession of a firearm, roughly three weeks after the initial shooting.
The injuries turned out to be more serious than first described. Evans was treated at a local hospital for a severe gunshot wound to the face, while Flagg suffered a gunshot wound to his ankle, per the same station's reporting. A criminal complaint cited in that coverage also revealed that the firearm Evans used was a personally manufactured weapon, commonly known as a ghost gun.
The State Charges
The Iowa State Daily reported that both men faced state charges.
Iowa law treats reckless firearm discharge as a misdemeanor when no one is injured and no property is damaged, with felony penalties when injuries occur.
Part of a Wider Pattern of Gunfire in Ames
The Franklin Avenue case is not the only recent gunfire investigation in Ames. Hoodline previously reported that Ames police investigated two separate gunfire incidents on the 3800 block of Tripp Street in late September, including a September 24 shooting that wounded a man and a September 27 incident where shots were fired into the air during an argument. Both incidents occurred within days of each other.
The Franklin Avenue case, along with the Tripp Street incidents, reflects a string of firearm investigations that have drawn police attention across the city this year.
