Investigators are looking into whether an Iowa postal worker targeted
her colleague in shooting
[November 07, 2026]
By HANNAH FINGERHUT and JAMIE STENGLE
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A postal worker in Iowa who police say shot and
wounded two of her female colleagues inside the regional sorting center
where they all worked made her first court appearance on Friday as
authorities investigated whether it was a targeted attack.
Jennifer Christine Pledger, 39, fired at her coworkers Thursday and then
stood above one woman she had shot and fired again, police said. She
kept shooting as she left the post office just north of downtown Des
Moines, police said. She is charged with two counts of attempted murder
and other charges.
Two women, 45 and 53, had multiple gunshot wounds, according to court
records. Both are expected to recover. A 55-year-old male employee was
hurt in a fall while trying to escape.
“We believe the evidence indicates that one of the victims was
targeted,” Des Moines Police Sgt. Paul Parizek said Friday, adding that
their assessment is based on the suspect’s actions and they need to
learn more to confirm.
Michael McTaggart, the city's police chief, said Friday that officers
were on scene within one minute of 911 calls but not immediately on
radio, an update to the initial timeline that officers were there within
three minutes. Pledger was detained minutes later on a bike trail,
police said, after officers quickly spread out to find her once they
learned her name and which direction she went.
“Had we not known that the person had left the building, we would have
dedicated a lot of our resources to perimeter security and clearing that
building,” Parizek said.
At her initial court appearance Friday, a judge approved her application
for appointment of counsel, according to court records. Pledger is being
held without bond. Attempts by The Associated Press to reach possible
relatives Thursday were unsuccessful. The Polk County Public Defender’s
office declined comment.
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A police vehicle is parked outside of a post office after a reported
shooting in Des Moines, Iowa, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. (AP
Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Pledger, of West Des Moines, was charged with two counts of
attempted murder, two counts of willful injury causing serious
injury and intimidation. Parizek said a search warrant was executed
Thursday at a home believed to be her residence.
Over 200 employees work in the regional sorting facility, which has
a walk-in service counter accessible to the public. The shooting
happened on the facility’s second floor, in an area not accessible
to the public.
"Everyone has the right to feel safe in their workplace without fear
from coworkers, customers or others," Margaret Greene, acting
assistant inspector in charge with the U.S. Postal Inspection
Service, said Friday.
Pledger was detained without resistance and a 9 mm handgun was
recovered, according to police. The gun had no more live ammunition
inside but she had another loaded magazine, court records show.
___
Stengle reported from Dallas.
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