State officials release new details in Dubuque officer-involved shooting

State officials have released additional information about an officer-involved shooting on Christmas Eve that left a Dubuque teenager with injuries and two officers on critical incident leave. The update from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations provides new details regarding the Dec. 24 incident in which officers shot and wounded the teenager while serving a warrant. The update identifies the teen as 16-year-old Lorenzo Cruz, of Dubuque, and states Dubuque Police responded Dec. 24 to the area of the 500 block of Nevada Street following a report that Cruz had been threatening another person and was possibly in possession of a gun. Officers were informed there were seven active warrants for Cruz’s arrest and that he was known to carry weapons.  Officers located Cruz on Nevada Street where he ran from officers. On Alpine St., Cruz stopped and faced officers while drawing a knife. Officers commanded Cruz to drop the knife. He did not and a taser was deployed, but it was ineffective. Cruz ran at officer Dylan Doerges, prompting both Doerges and officer Stephanie Wehr to fire their weapons. Cruz was struck twice and transported to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for treatment. Cruz is charged with assault on a peace officer while displaying a dangerous weapon and interference with official acts. Cruz is scheduled to attend a preliminary hearing in both cases on Monday, Jan. 6. Officers Doerges and Wehr remain on critical incident leave while the incident remains under investigation.