According to a news release from the Des Moines Police Department, authorities arrived at the apartment at 4:53 a.m. to investigate reports of gunfire, the Des Moines Register reported.
BREAKING: E. Douglas and parts of Hubbell Avenue are closed due to an active shooter situation. Police informed KCCI that negotiators are on the scene. https://t.co/0uv06iQaWg pic.twitter.com/qUqats6BcU
— KCCI News (@KCCINews) November 17, 2019
The officers were met by gunfire, KCCI reported. Police returned fire but did try to communicate with the gunman, who had barricaded himself inside an apartment, according to the Register.
"We got the reports of gunfire, we showed up and he kept shooting," Des Moines police spokesman Sgt. Paul Parizek told the newspaper.
Residents of the apartment complex were asked to remain in their homes until police can evacuate them safely, KCCI reported.
No injuries have been reported.
Parizek told KCCI negotiators are speaking to the gunman. No motive for the shooting has been verified.
"We are confident we got the immediate danger contained right now, but you just never know with these situations how they're going to roll," Parizek told the television station.