Killing of Autumn Steele

On January 6, 2015, Autumn Steele, a 34-year-old woman, was fatally shot outside her home in Burlington, Iowa by police officer Jesse Hill, during a response to a domestic disturbance call. In June 2018, a civil lawsuit was settled between the City of Burlington and the Steele family over her death.

On January 6, 2015, Officer Jesse Hill was dispatched to the Steele home in response to a domestic disturbance call. Police said when Hill arrived, Autumn was screaming at and attacking her husband Gabriel (who was holding their young child). Hill said the family dog bit him as he was trying to protect the husband and child. He said he tried shooting the dog twice, but he slipped. One of his bullets hit Autumn Steele in her torso; she later died of her injuries. A neighbor told a local newspaper the officer was trying to break up the Steeles' argument and was startled by the couple's dog. The Steeles' German Shepherd was confiscated by the police under a search warrant and was placed in the city's dog pound for observation. The dog was later deemed "not vicious" and returned. Officer Hill was treated for at least one dog bite. Yet, during the case, it was exposed, there is no evidence of any bite.

On February 27, 2015, Des Moines County Attorney Amy Beavers provided a 7-page letter to the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations stating that she would not prosecute Hill under manslaughter charges. The Associated Press reported that Beavers said her decision was supported by body camera evidence, witness statements, and reports from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Hill had to make an instantaneous decision as the threat was occurring, Beavers said. Adam J. Klein, an attorney who represents Steele's 7-year-old son, said in a news release that Beavers' statement made it appear she reached her "determination by simply ignoring Iowa law".

In June 2015, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley requested Nicholas Klinefeldt, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, to consider a federal investigation into the shooting. A spokesperson from the office neither confirmed nor denied the existence of the ongoing investigation into the matter.

In December 2015, the Steele family and transparency-advocacy groups pushed for all body-camera footage related to the incident to be released, including by pursuing legal action. That same month, bomb threats were made to Burlington City Council members, which police said were linked to the shooting. However, investigative records to the threats were never disclosed and the perpetrator involved has yet to be arrested.

In 2016, Des Moines County Attorney Beavers was found by the Iowa Public Information Board to have violated the Open Records Law after giving conflicting statements of accounts. She agreed to settle with the board to pay a $200 fine in exchange in not having to admit guilt.

On November 16, 2016, a lawsuit was filed by the family of Steele against the City of Burlington and Officer Hill in response to the shooting.

Attorneys representing the City of Burlington and the Burlington Police Department filed an appeal to dismiss the open records violation case against them in January 2017. Administrative Law Judge Karen Doland dismissed the appeal exclaiming that the case has merit and should be ruled. The hearing was going to be held on April 19, but was postponed. Instead, another pretrial conference would be held that day. It was determined from the pretrial conference that the hearing will be set on August 29. However, several claims were dismissed in the lawsuit due to U.S District Judge James E. Gritzner granting approval for City of Burlington's attorneys but denied dropping the suit entirely.