A 27-year-old West Des Moines man is facing four counts of attempted murder after allegedly opening fire on strangers driving along Interstate 35 in Warren County, Iowa, on Monday afternoon, wounding a woman.
Andrew Darrick Tanaka told law enforcement after his arrest, “I had to kill people today,” according to a criminal complaint and affidavit filed Tuesday in Warren County District Court. The Iowa Department of Public Safety is handling the case.
The shootings began around 3:31 p.m. Monday when 911 dispatchers started receiving multiple calls reporting gunfire along the northbound lanes of I-35.
According to the affidavit, Tanaka was driving a black Chevrolet Equinox when a woman in a black BMW passed him. The BMW then passed a Subaru Outback. Investigators say Tanaka caught up to the Subaru and fired at least two rounds through the driver’s side window, hitting the woman behind the wheel in her left shoulder.
He then allegedly caught up to the BMW and fired a round through its driver’s side window as well.
Tanaka kept driving north and rear-ended a gray Nissan Altima carrying two people, the affidavit states. When the occupants of the Nissan stopped to check on him, Tanaka allegedly got out of his vehicle with a handgun and fired at least one round into the car’s windshield.
Warren County Sheriff’s deputies, West Des Moines police officers and Iowa State Patrol troopers responded to reports of gunfire near mile marker 56. They found the wounded woman along with several vehicles that had been struck by gunfire. She was taken to a hospital with injuries authorities say did not appear life-threatening.
Tanaka’s vehicle became disabled after the collision with the Nissan, and officers found him standing on the shoulder of the interstate holding a handgun. He was taken into custody without further incident.
The interstate was shut down for several hours while investigators processed the scene. Tanaka was booked into the Warren County Jail on four counts of attempted murder.
The Warren County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation are continuing to investigate.
