The Linn County Attorney’s Office has completed a thorough review of the Linn County Sheriff’s Office investigative file in connection with the August 30, 2020 shooting death of Kevin Harris at 2783 Ridgeview Drive in Palo, Iowa. The investigation showed that Harris had forced entry into this residence at approximately 3:00 a.m. when he was shot and killed by the homeowner, Jordan Schulte.
Upon review of the investigation, Linn County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden concludes the facts do not support criminal charges against Schulte. Iowa law on justification and self-defense is set forth in Iowa Code Chapter 704. The law presumes a person is acting reasonably when they use deadly force upon another who has forced entry into their residence. The actions Schulte took in his own home to protect himself and his family were reasonable and justified under the law. In reaching this decision, County Attorney Vander Sanden concurs with the conclusions already drawn by Linn County Sheriff investigators who also determined that criminal charges were not warranted given the facts revealed in their investigation.
Read the complete legal memo (PDF) by the Linn County Attorney’s Office.