Shooting in Red Oak
RED OAK — Two Red Oak men were shot after an argument Friday night, resulting in a massive manhunt and an attempted murder charge.
Rafael Bautista, 31, was arrested Saturday morning in connection with the shooting of Clyde Everett Zeigler, 36, at 407 Fourth Ave. which occurred just around midnight earlier that day.
Eyewitnesses to the shooting told the Red Oak Express Zeigler went to the trailer where Bautista and Zeigler’s sister, Dawn Stephens, lived.
Zeigler, who lives a block away at 503 4th Avenue, frequently visited Bautista and Stephens and was there enjoying a cookout late Friday afternoon.
A “light-hearted” argument started over a recent transaction between the two, but eventually, escalated. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said at some point, Bautista went inside the trailer and emerged with a pistol, waving it “indiscriminately.”
Zeigler then started yelling at Bautista and eventually, a witness “felt the need to place herself in front of Zeigler as a shield from Bautista.”
Moments later, the DCI investigator reported Bautista intentionally pointed and fired the pistol, causing Zeigler to suffer a gunshot wound.
After being shot, Zeigler sat on a chair and told Bautista he wanted to go home. The witness reported Bautista said “no, we’re going to finish this.” Zeigler stood up and struggled with Bautista, which resulted in Bautista firing the pistol multiple times in an “erratic” manner.
Zeigler then fell to the ground with multiple gunshot wounds including one in the abdomen, one in a leg and one in a foot.
Zeigler was flown by air ambulance to an Omaha hospital. Family members report he successfully underwent surgery Sunday and has been upgraded to stable condition.
During the struggle, Bautista apparently shot himself in the arm. He fled the scene on foot and police immediately began an extensive search for the suspect and the weapon he used. Red Oak police officers saw Bautista riding a bicycle on 8th Street at and when they attempted to stop him, he fled into a nearby field. Police Chief Drue Powers said when finally apprehended, Bautista resisted arrest.
Bautista was not armed at the time of his arrest though as the pistol, which Powers believes is of a high-caliber variety, has not been recovered.
“People should be on the look and if they find something, let us know,” Powers said.
In addition to the Red Oak Police Department, members of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department and Iowa State Patrol assisted in the search. The Omaha police helicopter, an Iowa State Patrol airplane and a helicopter provided by Johnson Helicopter Service was also used to locate Bautista, who was arrested at about 9 a.m.
Bautista was taken to Creighton University Medical for treatment. He has since been released and is in custody at the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on a $50,000 bond. In addition to attempted murder, Bautista is also charged with willful injury and armed with intent.
An emergency alert was issued about 2 a.m. Saturday, warning Red Oak residents of an armed criminal suspect, urging them to shut and lock their doors as police and sheriff’s deputies pursued Bautista. Residents received a second “all-clear” call about three hours later, indicating authorities believed Bautista had left the area.
The incident continues to be investigated by the Red Oak Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Criminalistics Laboratory.
Anyone with information on the shooting can call police at 623-6500.