Local boy dead from gunshot wound

NO THREAT

Some juveniles on their own jumped to the conclusion that that may be the case and started a rumor mill. It was trying to be squashed by the school and it eventually escalated last night with lots of social media posts in regards to that, but there is no threat.”

Cody Potthast, Fort Madison Chief of Police

FORT MADISON – A local youth has died as a result of a gunshot wound suffered in the early morning hours Wednesday near Central Park in Fort Madison.
Area law enforcement are currently investigating the incident and are releasing few details.
“We're currently conducting an investigation into that,” Fort Madison Police Chief Cody Potthast said this morning.
“We received reports of an individual with an injury from a gunshot wound. Officers arrived and the investigation is being conducted with Fort Madison Police Department, DCI, and the assistance of Lee County Sheriff's Department. We’re waiting for the results of the investigation to be completed, but a 16-year-old male has passed away.”
Lee County Attorney Ross Braden said no arrests have been made and investigators are looking at the investigation with eyes open to all possibilities surrounding the death.
Information released later Wednesday indicated the boy died from a gunshot wound to the torso and the shooting took place at 505 10th Street. An autopsy has been ordered for Wednesday.
Braden and Fort Madison Police Chief Cody Potthast said current information would indicate there is no threat to the general public.
Potthast wouldn't comment on the cause of the shooting or any potential suspects.
Authorities responded to the incident reported across the street from the park on 10th Street near St. John's Church and found the subject of the shooting with a gunshot wound. He was transported by Lee County EMS and was pronounced dead.
Fort Madison police officers were at Fort Madison High School Thursday morning regarding some social media posts that surfaced around the incident and a possible shooting at the school, but Potthast said there was no validity to the threat.
“Some juveniles on their own jumped to the conclusion that that may be the case and started a rumor mill. It was trying to be squashed by the school and it eventually escalated last night with lots of social media posts in regards to that, but there is no threat,” he said.