MUSCATINE, Iowa — A large-scale manhunt is underway in eastern Iowa for a 59-year-old man accused of fleeing a traffic stop, crashing his vehicle, and opening fire on law enforcement during a foot pursuit, wounding a Muscatine police officer.
The suspect, Mark Lee Jackson, 59, of Des Moines, remained at large Monday and is wanted on attempted-murder warrants tied to the shooting. Police have also described him as armed and dangerous.
The incident began Friday evening when a Muscatine County sheriff’s deputy attempted to stop Jackson near Benham Avenue and Nebraska Street. He refused to pull over and instead drove at high speeds through residential areas. Court records cited by local media allege that during the pursuit he left the roadway, drove onto a bike path, went through a fence, struck a garage, and eventually abandoned his vehicle before fleeing on foot.
Mark Lee Jackson, 59, is being sought by authorities following a police shooting in Muscatine, Iowa. Law enforcement officials have described Jackson as armed and dangerous and are urging the public not to approach him. Photo courtesy of law enforcement.
Roughly 20 minutes after the initial stop attempt, officers located Jackson several blocks away, escalating the situation further.
Police say he opened fire as officers pursued him on foot.
A Muscatine Police Department officer was struck in the elbow. The officer was treated and released from the hospital and is recovering at home. Police Chief Anthony Kies said the officer is expected to make a full recovery.
Some of the gunfire was directed toward an area where civilians and children were present, though no civilians or children were injured.
The shooting prompted a large-scale law enforcement response involving more than 100 officers from 16 agencies, along with five tactical teams, multiple K-9 units, drone teams, and an aviation unit. Resources have been concentrated in a roughly 120-acre search area tied to Jackson’s last known location, with search-and-rescue dogs and aerial surveillance deployed to determine whether he remains in the area or escaped the perimeter.
Chief Kies said the scope of the operation reflects the ongoing risk to the public and warned residents that officers cannot guarantee Jackson is no longer a threat.
Jackson is described as approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing about 145 pounds, with blue eyes and thinning gray hair.
Investigators say he was already wanted prior to the confrontation, with an active Iowa State Corrections warrant for an alleged parole violation and a Muscatine Police Department warrant related to a second-degree theft case. Court records also indicate prior convictions for felony eluding, including incidents involving speeds at least 25 mph over the limit.
A cash reward has been offered for information leading to his arrest.
The search remained active as law enforcement continued pursuing leads in the Muscatine area.
“Make no mistake: We will not stop until Mark Lee Jackson is located,” Kies said during a briefing.
Officials are urging anyone who sees Jackson not to approach him and to contact law enforcement immediately.
