Undercover drug operation turns deadly - CBS4 - WHBF Quad Cities, IL-IA News Weather Sports

Undercover drug operation turns deadly

By: Katie Jones

kjones@cbs4qc.com

One man is dead after an undercover drug operation in Johnson County goes wrong. Two narcotics officers were doing an undercover operation at a mobile home park in Iowa City around seven Thursday night when things got out of control.

"There's nothing ever unusual going on, no outrageous activity," Neighbor Brad Martin said.

Neighbors said the typically quiet Breckenridge Trailer Court was anything but after shots rang out and cops swarmed in.

"I was kind of shocked something like this would happen out here," Witness Jonathan Northrub said.

Investigators said after a fight broke out between the agents and drug suspects, a shootout started. The agents weren't hurt but one suspect was killed and another injured.

"Undercover operations are a high risk activity so confrontations do occur from time to time very few of them result in shootings but it is a high risk activity," Assistant Director of the Division of Narcotics Enforcement Kevin Winker said.

Now, investigators are trying to figure out what went wrong.

"The whole purpose of this entire function is to determine what happened, why it happened how it happened and we always look to learn from every operation we do," Winker said.

Officers are still searching for two men involved in the shooting. If you have any information you're asked to call police. Meanwhile, the two agents involved are on paid administrative leave during the investigation, which is standard procedure.