Updated Information Provided by Plymouth County Sheriff Office
(Le Mars) — The autopsy for the deceased victim is scheduled for Wednesday, May 13th at the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny, Iowa. The deceased has been identified as 51 year old Kevin LeRoy Juzek of 20139 Echo Road, Merrill, Iowa. The individual placed under arrest is 81-year old Thomas Jordan Knapp of 20139 Echo Road, of Merrill, Iowa. Knapp has been charged with Domestic Abuse Assault while Displaying of Use of a Weapon, first offense. Knapp is being held on a $5,000 bond at the Plymouth County Jail. Additional charges are anticipated as the investigation continues.
81-year old Thomas Knapp
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a domestic dispute that ended up having one person shot and killed. The incident happened on Monday at about 11:45 a.m. at 20139 Echo Road, about 12 miles
west of Merrill. Sheriff Mike Van Otterloo says the Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call from a woman and reported a domestic dispute followed by a gunshot.
Van Otterloo says there was one male victim that died at the scene and has been transported to the State of Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office at Ankeny.
Law enforcement officials were dispatched immediately and while en-route, it was reported that there was a gunshot, and a victim had been shot. The Cert (Combined Emergency Response Team) was activated but did not arrive at the scene before the alleged shooter came out of the residence. The male suspect was taken into custody without incident. Upon further investigation, it was
learned that there was one deceased male in the residence with a gunshot wound. Another individual was able to leave the residence and talked with law enforcement officials. Van Otterloo says all three individuals involved lived at the residence, but would not comment on their relationship.
The suspect was arrested and charged with Aggravated Domestic Abuse Assault and is being held in the Plymouth County Corrections facility until he can be seen by a judge. Van Otterloo says officials were able to obtain a search warrant for the residence, and the Le Mars Police Department’s forensic team
processed the scene. The names of the individuals involved are being held at this time. Van Otterloo says additional information about the shooting incident may be released on Tuesday. The investigation continues and Van Otterloo says additional charges are expected. The Plymouth County Sheriff says the safety of the public is not an issue, and law enforcement officials are not looking for other individuals.
The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Le Mars, Hinton, and Merrill Police Departments, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa DOT, Plymouth County Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agency.
