Ottumwa Police Officers responded to the 500 Block of Ottumwa Street on a report that someone had been shot with a gun on October 4, 2017 shortly after 9:00 PM.

Police arrived and determined that a victim had been transported to the Ottumwa Regional Health Center via a private vehicle.

The victim that was transported to the hospital was identified as Leon Laroy Stewart, age 34, of 535 Ottumwa Street, Ottumwa. Stewart sustained a non-life threatening gunshot wound to his hand as a result of an altercation with another male near the intersection of 4th Street and Ottumwa Street.

The other person involved in this incident was later located by police and the weapon that was discharged during the altercation was recovered.

The circumstances surrounding this altercation are ongoing in nature. No arrests have been made in connection to this incident. The male who discharged the firearm was released after providing a statement to investigators.

Please note the following pursuant to recent Supreme Court rulings: “A criminal charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.”