A West Des Moines man is facing four counts of attempted murder after authorities say he opened fire on multiple vehicles along Interstate 35 in Warren County on Monday afternoon, wounding one woman.
Andrew Darrick Tanaka, 27, allegedly 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 said the shootings began around 3:31 p.m. Monday when 911 calls began coming in reporting gunfire along the northbound lanes of I-35.
According to the affidavit, Tanaka was driving a black Chevrolet Equinox when a woman driving a black BMW passed him, followed shortly after by a Subaru Outback passing the BMW. Investigators say Tanaka caught up to the Subaru and fired at least two rounds through the driver’s side window, striking the woman behind the wheel in her left shoulder.
He then allegedly caught up to the BMW and fired another round through its driver’s side window before continuing north and rear-ending a gray Nissan Altima carrying two people.
When the occupants of the Nissan got out to check on Tanaka, he allegedly exited his own vehicle with a handgun and fired at least one round into the windshield of their car.
Deputies from the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, officers from the West Des Moines Police Department and Iowa State Patrol troopers responded to reports of gunfire near mile marker 56. Officers located the wounded woman along with several vehicles that appeared to have been struck by gunfire. She was taken to a hospital with injuries authorities said did not appear to be life-threatening.
Tanaka was found along the interstate after his vehicle became disabled in the collision with the Nissan. Officers arriving at the scene found him standing on the shoulder of the highway holding a handgun. He was taken into custody without further incident.
The shootings prompted authorities to close the interstate 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.
