Driver opens fire on strangers along major US interstate, tells cops he ‘had to kill people today’, tell me about this news today

Interstate 35 Shooting: Driver Arrested After Opening Fire on Motorists in Iowa

Authorities in Iowa have taken 37-year-old Andrew Darrick Tanaka into custody following a random shooting spree along Interstate 35 in Warren County. The suspect allegedly fired multiple rounds at passing vehicles and later told law enforcement officers that he felt he “had to kill people today”.

Incident Overview and Timeline

The violent episode unfolded near mile marker 56 on northbound Interstate 35, near the West Des Moines area. According to law enforcement affidavits:

• Initial Gunfire: Tanaka began targeting vehicles at random, firing a handgun into adjacent cars, including shooting through the driver-side window of a BMW.

  WFIN

• Collision and Further Attacks: Tanaka continued driving north until he rear-ended a gray Nissan Altima carrying two occupants. When the passengers exited to assist and inspect the crash, Tanaka allegedly pointed a firearm and shot directly into the vehicle’s windshield.

  WFIN

• Victim Injuries: One woman sustained gunshot wounds during the shooting spree. Emergency responders transported her to a nearby hospital with injuries that were determined to be non-life-threatening.

  WFIN+ 1

Law Enforcement Response and Arrest

Deputies from the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, officers from the West Des Moines Police Department, and Iowa State Patrol troopers converged on the highway following multiple emergency calls.

Officers located Tanaka on the shoulder of the interstate standing near his disabled vehicle while holding a handgun. Law enforcement took him into custody without further incident. Investigators shut down northbound lanes of Interstate 35 for several hours to collect ballistic evidence and process the scene.

Charges and Investigation

Tanaka was booked into the Warren County Jail and is facing four counts of attempted murder along with additional weapons charges. Authorities confirmed that the victims were targeted at random and that the investigation into the motive remains ongoing.