On Wednesday, February 23, 2022, at approximately 8:11 p.m., the Ottumwa Police Department responded to 424 N. Court, Apartment 3, Ottumwa, on a report that a male had been shot at this address. Police arrived and found a 17 year old male identified as James John Barbieri had sustained a gunshot wound to his head.
Barbieri was transported to the Ottumwa Regional Health Center and then was transferred to the University of Iowa Hospital for treatment of his injuries. Barbieri died from his injuries on Saturday, February 26, 2022.
Preliminary investigation identified that Barbieri was handling a firearm at which time the weapon discharged and the round struck Barbieri in his head. The circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation. Anyone who has information regarding this incident is requested to contacted the Ottumwa Police Department Investigations Unit at 641-683-0661.
