The Iowa Attorney General’s Office announced on April 29 that the fatal shooting of Zakar Jeffrey by a Des Moines Police Officer on March 24, 2026, was legally justified.
According to the report, officers responded to a welfare check request from Michael Ewing, who was concerned about his daughter Martasha “Tae” McKenzie. Ewing believed she was at an apartment on SE 5th Street in Des Moines belonging to Zakar Jeffrey. Senior Police Officers Noah DeVenney and Marcel Greiser arrived at the scene and attempted several times to get someone to answer the door. After property management unlocked the apartment, Ewing opened the door and encountered a shirtless, bloodied man who began slashing at him with a knife. The man, later identified as Zakar Jeffrey, then charged at Officer DeVenney with the knife raised. DeVenney retreated before drawing his firearm and firing until Jeffrey fell.
Jeffrey died from gunshot wounds sustained during this encounter. Authorities found he also had self-inflicted knife wounds to his forearms and neck. Inside the apartment, police discovered Martasha McKenzie deceased; she had no pulse and was cold to the touch when found. An autopsy revealed a ligature mark on her neck and determined her cause of death as asphyxiation.
At the time of these events, officials said Jeffrey was on federal parole for previous weapons and drug charges. The knife recovered from him was described as a folding tactical knife approximately eight inches long with a three-and-a-half-inch blade.
The Attorney General’s Office stated that Officer DeVenney’s use of lethal force “was justified, as he fired in defense of himself and others against deadly force.” The report added: “Initially on this call, Officers DeVenney and Greiser were simply attempting to locate and check the welfare of a young woman. It was only when Jeffrey, armed with a knife, began to attack David Ewing [sic], and then Officer DeVenney, that force was even considered. His actions saved his own life and the lives of innocent bystanders in the hallway with him.”
This review is issued under independent authority granted by Iowa Code section 13.12 for investigating or prosecuting law enforcement conduct resulting in death.
