A Sioux Police Department spokesman says a woman’s ability to get away from her estranged husband — and quick response by police may have saved her life. Police Lieutenant Marti Reilly says Melissa Powell called dispatchers and told them she was shot in the arm by her husband Dan and she was driving away in her car.
Reilly says Dan Powell followed her and began ramming her car with his vehicle in hopes of getting her to stop. Reilly says they were traveling at speeds of 60-miles an hour before stopping in front of the Tyson’s Events Center. Reilly says Dan Powell continued to fire shots at his wife after they stopped, but drove away as police arrived, and then took his own life after a short standoff.
Reilly says the officer on the scene reported that it looked like Powell’s gun malfunctined and Powell was either reloading on the gun had jammed. He says about one minute later, Powell drew the weapon to his head and shot himself. Reilly says the couple, who have three children, had been involved in previous domestic violence calls.
Reilly says there was a domestic assault case in October, and the couple were scheduled to go to court Wednesday for a protective order, and that may’ve been a motive for the shooting, but they don’t know for certain. Reilly says Melissa Powell’s ability to get in her car and get away saved her life.
Reilly says the fact that Powell was moving kept her alive, as he says the dispatcher kept her moving toward the police station because the time of day made it easier than trying to get cars to her. He says if Dan Powell had succeeded in disabling her car before officers could’ve gotten to her, he’s "fairly certain it would have been a much different outcome." Melissa Powell remains in fair condition at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City.