The U.S. Postal Service warned that mail and packages could be delayed after it temporarily closed its Des Moines, Iowa, processing and distribution center on Thursday. Police said three postal employees were injured that morning in a shooting at the same building.
The USPS service alert, updated at 1 p.m. Central on November 5, says the closure may affect sorting, transportation and delivery. It gives no reopening time or list of affected ZIP codes. The agency has identified the facility as both a processing center and the main post office at 1165 Second Avenue.
What police said
Des Moines police said two employees were shot and a third was injured in a fall while trying to escape. All three were hospitalized with injuries police did not consider life-threatening. Police received reports at about 9:10 a.m. Central. Officers detained a suspect, also a postal employee, at about 9:21 a.m. near the facility.
The shooting took place on the second floor, in an area closed to the public, police said. Nearby Des Moines Public Schools facilities briefly restricted entry and exit and lifted those measures around 10 a.m. after police confirmed the suspect was in custody.
Where to check mail service
Residents and small businesses can check USPS residential service alerts for delivery or post-office changes. Businesses that drop shipments at postal facilities can check the agency's mailer alerts. The Des Moines notice does not say how long a particular shipment might be delayed.
