April 16 shooting takes the life of Waukon man, results in Second Degree Murder charges filed against his step-son roommate

A call received by the Allamakee County Dispatch Center Monday, April 16 at 3:23 p.m. reporting an accidental shooting at 49 Jean Road in the Parkview Trailer Court in Waukon is evolving into the first murder case in Waukon in nearly 40 years. The caller, 32-year-old John Michael Quanrude, a resident of the mobile home at that Jean Road address, has since been charged with Second Degree Murder, and his roommate - who is also his step-father, 60-year-old Dean Elliot Russell, was the victim.

According to court documents in the case, Quanrude had dialed 9-1-1 and reported he had accidentally shot his friend with a gun in the shoulder and chest area and said the victim needed immediate medical attention. Quanrude met the initial responding officer outside the trailer at 49 Jean Road and led him inside. The officer asked where the gun was, and Quanrude told him it was in his bedroom in the trailer, and he also told the officer the victim’s name was Nate, which turned out to not be the case.

When the officer asked for more specifics, court documents indicate that Quanrude replied with, “He was messing with me. I fired a warning shot.” When the officer asked Quanrude to clarify his warning shot statement, Quanrude further replied, “It was a heat of the moment thing. (Expletive), I’m so sorry, man.”

Russell was transported by Veterans Memorial Hospital ambulance to the hospital in Waukon, and an air ambulance was requested to transport him on for further treatment, but Russell was pronounced dead at Veterans Memorial Hospital from his wounds. As part of a standard murder investigation, an autopsy was ordered to be conducted by the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office. A full obituary for Russell appears on Page 3A of this week’s issue of The Standard.

INITIAL ARREST
Law enforcement officials said the public was not considered to be at risk in the incident, as Quanrude remained at the scene and was cooperative with officials. However, after he was transported to the police station in Waukon and told he was going to be detained, he did attempt to flee custody, resulting in the descent of several law enforcement officials upon the police station in a flurry of lights and sirens around 5 p.m. Monday, April 17. According to court documents, Quanrude attempted to flee the police station through its attached garage, but was tasered by the officer who initially responded to the shooting incident. Court documents further explained that Quanrude attempted to flee again a short time later but was quickly detained and restrained inside the police station. As a result of his attempts to flee, Quanrude was originally charged with Interference with Official Acts, resulting in his arrest and booking into the Allamakee County Jail.

MURDER CHARGES FILED
Within the ensuing 24 hours of the shooting, further investigation by the Waukon Police Department, Allamakee County Sheriff’s Department and Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) provided enough evidence for the Allamakee County Attorney’s office to come to the decision to file charges against Quanrude for Second Degree Murder late Tuesday afternoon, April 17. The legal definition of Second Degree Murder explains that it involves an intended killing that was not necessarily premeditated or planned beforehand. Under Iowa Code, it is classified as a Class B Felony and punishable by a maximum of 50 years in prison.

Per an order issued by a First Judicial District Court Judge, a $100,000 cash only bond was set for Quanrude and remained as set after his initial appearance April 17 at the Allamakee County Courthouse in Waukon. Quanrude is also scheduled for a preliminary hearing Wednesday, April 25 at 3 p.m. in Allamakee County District Court, but it was anticipated that the Allamakee County Attorney’s office would file a trial information prior to that date that would eliminate the need for that preliminary hearing and result in an arraignment hearing planned for sometime in May, where Quanrude can then enter his plea and a judge will then decide upon further proceedings.

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS
Further investigation leading to the filing of the murder charges against Quanrude involved the execution of several search warrants involving the residence at 49 Jean Road, vehicles located outside the residence, as well as Quanrude’s cell phone and person. According to court documents, the findings of DCI officials from their investigation inside the residence indicated there was a gun shot hole through Quanrude’s bedroom wall to the lower left, as well as another gun shot hole through the middle of his bedroom door. Other than that gun shot hole in the door, DCI officials say they did not find any apparent damage on the hallway side of the door that would indicate any attempt at a forced entry into the bedroom where the shooting reportedly took place. A pump action shotgun reportedly used in the shooting was also found in the bedroom, as Quanrude had earlier indicated to police.

Interviews with family members and neighbors also revealed that a relative of Quanrude’s had received a call from him the evening prior to the shooting advising that he needed a gun because he was afraid someone was trying to hurt him and Russell. That relative reportedly gave Quanrude a shotgun that Sunday evening, April 15, according to the original criminal complaint.

Further details of the case will continue to be updated in future editions of The Standard and online at www.waukonstandard.com as they become available.