Inset: Andrew Tanaka (Iowa Department of Public Safety). Background: News footage of the scene in Martensdale, Iowa, after the alleged shooting incident (WOI).
An Iowa man charged with attempted murder told police he “had to kill people” the day he allegedly opened fire on several drivers.
Andrew Tanaka, 27, is in custody at the Warren County Jail after being arrested on Monday. According to the Iowa Department of Public Safety, several law enforcement agencies responded to the scene on Interstate 35 in Martensdale, Iowa, around 3:30 p.m. According to an affidavit reviewed by Law&Crime, several people called 911 to report a man “discharging a firearm.” When police arrived, they found one woman with a gunshot wound and several vehicles that had been struck by bullets.
Officers found Tanaka down the road, on the shoulder and carrying a firearm.
According to the affidavit, a witness told police she saw Tanaka, who was driving a black Chevrolet Equinox, pulling up next to a Subaru Outback. Tanaka then allegedly fired “at least” two rounds into the Outback, hitting the female driver in the shoulder. The witness said Tanaka continued driving and caught up to her in her BMW, then fired a shot at her.
As Tanaka continued northbound, he reportedly rear-ended a Nissan Altima carrying two people. After the crash, the two people from the Altima got out to see if Tanaka was OK. According to police, Tanaka got out of his “disabled” Equinox, “armed with a handgun,” and allegedly fired one shot at the Altima’s windshield.
Police found Tanaka near the wreck with the Altima and arrested him without incident. According to the affidavit, Tanaka told police, “I had to kill people today.”
The woman who was shot was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Tanaka was charged with four counts of attempted murder and is being held on $1 million cash bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 16.
