Shooting Suspect Arrested in Chicago

Faces Federal Firearms and State Attempted Murder Charges in Des Moines

Riverdale, IL – A three-month manhunt for a Des Moines, Iowa shooting suspect has ended with the fugitive’s arrest in Riverdale. A team of law enforcement officers led by U.S. Marshals arrested James Matthew Butler, 29, around 2:40 p.m. Thursday near the intersection of 140th and School St.

Butler was wanted by the Des Moines Police Department on three counts of attempted murder in connection with the May 27 shooting of a 33-year old woman and a 36-year old man in the 1100 block of 27th St. Butler is also accused of shooting at a third individual who was not injured. At the time of the alleged shooting, Butler was on federal pre-trial release. He was awaiting trial in the Southern District of Iowa on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm. A federal arrest warrant was issued for Butler on May 28.

On Thursday, acting on information from Polk County Crime Stoppers and the U.S. Marshals Southern Iowa Fugitive Task Force in Des Moines, U.S. Marshals in the Northern District of Illinois – assisted by their task force - observed a man matching Butler’s description in a vehicle with several other individuals in Riverdale. As the vehicle neared the area of 140th and School St., Deputies conducted a felony traffic stop of the vehicle. The man believed to be Butler attempted to give Deputies a false identity. Deputies were able to confirm Butler’s identity and arrested him without incident.

Butler is being held at the federal Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago where he is awaiting extradition back to the Southern District of Iowa.