Fort Dodge police responding to calls around 4:45 a.m. found Jamael Cox, 25, of Fort Dodge, unresponsive at the crime scene where he was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. Nearby, survivors Marissa Andrews, 21, of Fort Dodge, and Jayne Bartrom, 30, of Wesley, were injured by stray bullets.

Cox, found lying in the street, suffered a gunshot wound to the upper torso, police reported.

Shortly after finding the first three, police found another victim of the shooting who managed to flee the scene in his vehicle. Tyrone Cunningham, 47, of Fort Dodge, was found in his crashed vehicle at the intersection of South 15th Street and Sixth Avenue South.

Police said Cunningham lost consciousness after being shot in his lower extremities. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the single-vehicle crash.

-Messenger photo by Bill Shea
An area in the 900 block of 10th Avenue Southwest is taped off as an investigation into the deaths of two Fort Dodge men began Tuesday. According to police, it appears the two men who were shot and killed were bystanders not related to the exchange of gunfire between others.

Andrews was taken to UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center in stable condition with gunshot wounds in her face and leg, before being transferred to a Des Moines hospital for treatment.

Bartrom was treated and subsequently released from Trinity after being struck in the lower leg.

Capt. Ryan Gruenberg, public information officer for FDPD, said that investigators believed that all victims were innocent bystanders caught in a “volley of shots” fired by at least two other people.

“It’s unfortunate that individuals chose to act out in such a violent manner, taking the lives of two individuals enjoying time together,” he said in a statement Tuesday afternoon. “We strongly encourage those who have information to contact the Police Department to ensure those responsible are held accountable as quickly as possible.”

The 900 and 1000 blocks of 10th Avenue Southwest were cordoned off with yellow crime scene tape and road cones while investigators worked there late Tuesday morning. A drone was launched to photograph the scene from the air.

-Messenger photo by Elijah Decious
An Iowa State Patrol trooper takes photos of one of the cars with bullet holes towed from the crime scene on 10th Avenue Southwest. Fort Dodge Police said an apparent “volley of shots” left two dead and two injured Tuesday around 4:45 a.m.

A small pavilion in nearby H.C. Meriwether Park appeared to serve as a command post for investigators.

At least two cars were loaded onto flatbed trucks and were removed from the scene.

Fort Dodge Police Department, Webster County Sheriff’s Department, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and Webster County Medical Examiner Dr. Dan Cole were on the scene. The Fort Dodge Fire Department also responded to the initial shooting calls.

Those with information are urged to call the FDPD at 515-573-2323. Anonymous tippers can also contact Webster County Crime Stoppers at 515-574-1444, or text “LEC” followed by the tip to 274637.

Messenger Editor Bill Shea contributed to this story.

-Messenger photo by Elijah Decious
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation cordoned off the area surrounding the 900 block of 10th Avenue Southwest after two were found dead and two more injured after a shootout early Tuesday morning.