This image taken from video provided by WOWT shows a fire truck and other emergency and law enforcement vehicles in Glenwood, Iowa, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (WOWT via AP)
Republished August 07, 2025 - 2:52 PM
Original Publication Date August 07, 2025 - 7:41 AM
GLENWOOD, Iowa (AP) — A man and his wife were shot to death in a small western Iowa town, and the man suspected of shooting them was critically injured in an explosion and subsequent fire in his own home, authorities said.
Dispatchers on Wednesday night received reports of a shooting in Glenwood, a town of roughly 5,000 about 150 miles (241 kilometers) southwest of the Iowa capital of Des Moines. Authorities found two people shot and a home in flames, Glenwood Police Chief Eric Johansen said in a Wednesday night news conference. An explosion shortly after the shootings led to the fire, Johansen said.
By Thursday afternoon, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation had identified the two people killed as 38-year-old Brandon Oman, who died at the scene, and his wife, 35-year-old Stevie Oman, who died at a hospital in neighboring Omaha, Nebraska. Both were found outside the burning home that police say belongs to the shooter.
The agency identified the suspect as 71-year-old Dennis Burnell and said he was critically injured in the fire. He was arrested as he exited his burning home, then taken to a hospital. Police believe he shot the Omans, according to a statement from the Division of Criminal Investigation.
Investigators would not say if or how the Omans and Burnell knew each other. Johansen had earlier said there was a history of law enforcement being called to Burnell's house, but he did not disclose the nature of those calls.
Online court documents show Burnell was found guilty last August of third-degree harassment of one of his neighbors and fined. Attorney Ryan Michael Dale, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, said he has not been contacted about representing Burnell in the latest case against him.
News from © The Associated Press, 2025