October 5, 2021

Mason City, Iowa – On October 3rd, 2021, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation was requested by the Mason City Police Department to investigate a homicide, followed by an officer-involved shooting that occurred in Mason City.

On October 3, 2021 at about 1:13 AM,  the Mason City Police Department responded to a 911 call at the Happy Donkey Bar located at 5 South Federal Avenue in Mason City, Iowa for a report of shots fired.  At about the same time, Mason City Police Officer Noah Friese was on foot nearby and heard the shots fired.

Officer Friese identified two male subjects running toward him as approached the area. Friese ordered the subjects, later identified as Jelani Faulk, age 25, of Chicago, Illinois and Kristopher Keys, age 24, of Dubuque, Iowa to the ground.  Keys complied with the officers' orders.  Faulk pointed a handgun towards Friese.  Friese shot at Faulk, striking him.   Faulk was transported to the MercyOne North Iowa for medical treatment.  Friese was uninjured.

Officers then located a shooting victim from the original shots fired call near the Happy Donkey Bar.  That subject was identified as Christopher Tucker, age 35, of Garner, Iowa.  Tucker was airlifted to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, with multiple gunshot wounds. Tucker died from those injures on October 4th, 2021.

Jelani Faulk is in custody at the Cerro Gordo County Jail.  He is charged with Interference with Official Acts, a class D felony, and a federal probation violation.  Charges are currently being filed against Faulk charging him with one count of Murder in the First Degree, a class A felony.  

This incident remains under investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.  Anyone with information is encouraged to call Special Agent in Charge Mike Krapfl at 563-599-4239.

Upon completion of this investigation, the results will be forwarded to the Cerro Gordo County Attorney’s Office for review.
 

ABOUT THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

The Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) is the largest law enforcement agency in the state. It includes six divisions and several bureaus, all working together with local, state and federal government agencies and the private sector, to keep Iowa a safe place by following our core values: leadership, integrity, professionalism, courtesy, service and protection. Divisions within the Iowa DPS: Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa State Fire Marshal Division, Iowa Division of Intelligence and Fusion Center, and Administrative Services Division. The Department of Public Safety is led by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Governor.

Iowa Department of Public Safety
215 E 7th St
Des Moines IA 50319
https://dps.iowa.gov