On May 25, at approximately 9:38p.m. deputies with the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to 11801 147th Ave. for a report of an adult male who was suicidal and intoxicated. Deputies were advised the subject was in possession of a handgun and was threatening to shoot himself. Deputies were also advised that his 2-year old child was in the residence with him. Deputies arrived on scene and heard a gunshot from inside the house. Deputies then observed a male walking around the interior of the residence. The male subject then placed a pistol on the kitchen counter and walked to the front door where he was detained.
The 2-year old child was located by deputies in a crib inside of a bedroom and returned to the mother. The child was unharmed. Deputies observed a bullet hole in the exterior of the bedroom wall that the 2-year old child was located inside of. Deputies later recovered a bullet from inside that wall. The male was identified as Austen Floyd Adair Followwill, age 26, of Burlington, IA. Deputies questioned Austen about the incident and he advised he did fire one round from his pistol into the exterior bedroom wall that the child was located inside of. Austen was placed under arrest for child endangerment and reckless use of a firearm.