Police said Jessica Henderson had reported threats before the downtown shooting.
DES MOINES, IA — A 40-year-old Des Moines woman died Saturday after police said her former boyfriend shot her, her dog and himself Friday evening near downtown, just hours after he was released from jail on bond.
Jessica Nicole Henderson died Saturday morning after she was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Des Moines police identified the gunman as 50-year-old Abdul Jabbar Jackson, who had been arrested two days earlier on harassment warrants tied to threats Henderson reported after ending their relationship. Police said the case remains under investigation, though Jackson died at the scene.
The shooting happened about 5:45 p.m. Friday on Tuttle Street near Southwest Ninth Street, police said. Investigators said Jackson used a handgun to shoot Henderson and her dog, Trigg, then fired at one of Henderson’s friends before shooting himself. Officers and Des Moines Fire Department rescue crews tried to save Henderson and Jackson at the scene. Jackson was pronounced dead there, while Henderson was taken to a local hospital. “Jessica had a rare gift for making everyone feel seen, valued, cared for, and important,” Henderson’s family said in a statement released after her death.
Police said Henderson had contacted Des Moines police less than two weeks before the shooting to report threatening calls and text messages from Jackson. Investigators said the messages included threats to shoot her. Police sought two arrest warrants charging Jackson with first-degree harassment. The day after Henderson made that report, police said, a GPS tracking device was found on her vehicle and turned over to detectives. Investigators identified Jackson as a suspect in that part of the case as well. Police located Jackson on May 6 and booked him into the Polk County Jail on the harassment warrants. He posted bond and was released Friday, a little more than six hours before the shooting.
The sequence of events put renewed attention on a case that police described as domestic violence. Henderson had recently ended her relationship with Jackson, investigators said, and the reported threats came after the breakup. Police did not say whether any protective order was in place, whether Henderson knew Jackson had been released or whether the GPS device led to any separate criminal charge before the shooting. Officers recovered two handguns at the scene. Authorities have not released the name of the friend Jackson allegedly fired at, and police have not said whether that person was injured. Henderson’s dog also died.
Henderson’s family described her as a daughter, sister, stepmother, aunt, friend and devoted dog owner. They said Trigg brought her “endless happiness and companionship.” In their statement, the family said Henderson’s death was “a tragic act of domestic violence” and called the issue a public safety matter. The family said domestic violence often involves fear, coercive control, threats and isolation. Their statement also said Henderson was known for generosity, loyalty and a willingness to stand beside people she loved. The family asked for privacy as relatives and friends mourned her death.
The criminal case against Jackson cannot move forward in the usual way because he died at the scene. Police said investigators are continuing to review the shooting, the earlier threats, the GPS tracking device and Jackson’s release from jail. The Polk County Jail booking followed his May 6 arrest on the harassment warrants, and police said he was released after posting bond Friday. Officials have not announced a public briefing or said when the final investigative report will be completed. Any review of bond, release conditions or prior police contact would depend on court and law enforcement records tied to the harassment case.
The shooting unfolded in an area close to downtown streets where police and rescue crews converged Friday evening. Henderson was still alive when first responders arrived, police said, and crews worked at the scene before she was transported. Jackson was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to investigators. The scene also included Henderson’s dog and two recovered firearms. Henderson’s family said her life “was taken far too soon” and said her legacy would remain with the people she supported and loved. Police said more details may be released as the investigation continues.
As of Monday, the investigation remained active, with Des Moines police reviewing the fatal shooting and the events that preceded it. Henderson died May 9, one day after the shooting and three days after Jackson’s arrest.
Author note: Last updated May 11, 2026.