DUBUQUE, Iowa – A confrontation outside a downtown bar early Saturday morning ended in tragedy, with both a shooting suspect and his victim pronounced dead after an exchange of gunfire involving a Dubuque police officer.

At approximately 12:52 a.m. on January 4, 2026, a Dubuque Police Department officer responded to reports of a physical altercation in front of Odd Fellows bar at 481 Locust St.

As the officer approached the scene, an adult male shot one of the fight participants with a handgun. The officer discharged his weapon at the suspect, who fled into the bar.

Officers provided immediate medical aid to the initial victim, who was transported to MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center. The suspect, located inside the bar with a gunshot wound, received on-scene treatment before being taken to UnityPoint Health-Finley Hospital.

Both individuals were later pronounced dead.

The officer was unharmed and placed on critical incident leave per department policy.

The Dubuque Police Department and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation are handling the ongoing probe. No further details have been released.

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