GREENE COUNTY, Iowa — The Iowa attorney general’s office has concluded that a Jefferson police officer acted lawfully when he fatally shot a 22‑year‑old man after the man allegedly stabbed the officer in the face during a late‑night pursuit on July 26.
Events leading to the shooting
According to the attorney general’s report, Officer Shaydon Thurman attempted to stop a black Dodge Charger for careless driving, speeding and two stop‑sign violations shortly after 1:25 a.m. on July 26. The driver, later identified as Keegan Dean Kennedy, fled through Jefferson into Greene County on 245th Street.
A Greene County sheriff’s deputy joined the pursuit. As the sedan slowed near a ditch, Kennedy allegedly jumped from the vehicle and ran toward Thurman’s patrol car while holding a sharp object above his head.
Thurman exited his vehicle and fired at Kennedy, the report says. Despite being shot, Kennedy continued toward the officer and stabbed Thurman in the left side of his face. Thurman then fired additional rounds until investigators determined Kennedy was no longer a threat.
Aftermath and investigation details
Deputy Zach Barden located Kennedy on the ground after a passenger ran into a nearby cornfield. Barden attempted lifesaving measures until emergency medical personnel arrived, but Kennedy was pronounced dead at the scene. Thurman was transported to a hospital for treatment of the stab wound.
Investigators reported the Dodge Charger had been stolen from a Jefferson residence earlier that night. Law enforcement had received reports of multiple vehicle thefts in Jefferson and Scranton in the days before the shooting.
Motive and related findings
The report notes that the knife used was a short, fixed‑blade weapon with a ring grip. Kennedy was wearing gloves, a mask and a hood when he exited the vehicle, according to the attorney general’s account.
“He had said about a week earlier that he would commit ‘suicide by cop’ if approached by law enforcement,”
— a claim investigators recorded from Kennedy’s family, the report states.
Investigators also found and questioned a juvenile in Carroll County shortly after the incident, who they believe may have been the passenger in the Charger. The juvenile denied involvement.
Legal conclusion
The Iowa attorney general concluded the officer’s use of deadly force was justified under state law. The determination centers on the report’s finding that Kennedy posed an immediate threat to Thurman when he ran at the officer holding a sharp object and subsequently stabbed him.
Community questions and context
The AG’s finding resolves whether criminal charges were warranted against the officer, but it may not ease public questions about the events that preceded the confrontation. The report references a sequence of alleged offenses — traffic violations, a reported vehicle theft and a reported pattern of vehicle thefts in the area — that culminated in the confrontation.
Residents and family members sometimes expect transparency beyond a legal determination. The attorney general’s report includes details about the pursuit, the physical struggle and the items found at the scene. Still, families and community members often seek additional information such as body‑worn camera footage, dispatch recordings and in‑depth accounts from all law enforcement agencies involved.
- Date of incident: July 26
- Officer: Shaydon Thurman
- Deceased: Keegan Dean Kennedy, 22
- Location: Jefferson and Greene County, near 245th Street
- Weapon described: Short, fixed‑blade knife with a ring grip
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| ~1:25 a.m. | Officer attempts to stop Charger for traffic violations |
| Shortly after | Vehicle flees through Jefferson into Greene County |
| Following pursuit | Driver exits, runs toward patrol car holding knife; officer shot and stabbed |
| Afterward | Deputy renders aid; Kennedy pronounced dead at scene |
The attorney general’s office did not announce criminal charges against Thurman. The report’s legal conclusion rests on the account that Kennedy continued advancing after the initial shots and stabbed the officer, creating an immediate threat of serious bodily harm or death.
Officials involved in the investigation and representatives for Kennedy’s family did not provide additional public comment in the report. Questions about further civil actions or internal departmental reviews were not addressed in the attorney general’s summary.
This case underscores the complex, often rapid decisions officers face in encounters that escalate to deadly force and the scrutiny those decisions receive from investigators, the courts and communities they serve.
— Meredith Kowalski, State Correspondent
