POLK COUNTY, IOWA — In a recent development surrounding the shooting incident in Johnston in May, Polk County Attorney Kimberly Graham stated that the fatal shooting was an act of self-defense, according to announcements made by her office and the local police on Friday.
On May 9, 62-year-old Steven Miller was fatally shot at an apartment complex on N.W. 62nd Ave, with another individual sustaining injuries. Miller later succumbed to his injuries in a hospital. Dalton Meier, 27, who resided in the same complex as Miller, was identified as the shooter. The investigation affirmed witness statements which suggested that Meier had acted to protect himself during the altercation, the specifics of which remain undisclosed.
After evaluating various pieces of evidence including witness testimonies, Graham concluded that Meier had resorted to reasonable force under the circumstances. According to Iowa law, the utilization of deadly force is permissible if it serves to prevent potential harm or injury to oneself or others.
Several agencies including the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Lab and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office collaborated in this investigation.