ANKENY, Iowa: Two McDonald’s employees were injured after a customer allegedly opened fire through a drive-thru window during a late-night shooting in Ankeny, Iowa, on Thursday, November 5, 2026. Police arrested a 25-year-old suspect approximately one hour after the incident, which reportedly followed a dispute over a food order.
According to the Ankeny Police Department, officers received multiple emergency calls at approximately 10:30 p.m. reporting gunfire at the McDonald’s restaurant on SE Delaware Avenue.
Investigators said the suspect allegedly fired several shots through the drive-thru window before leaving the scene in a vehicle. The attack injured two employees who were working at the restaurant.
The incident prompted an emergency response from local police and medical personnel as officers began investigating the shooting and searching for the suspected gunman.
Two Employees Injured in Drive-Thru Shooting
One employee sustained a gunshot wound to the arm and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Medical reports indicated that the worker was expected to survive.
A second employee was grazed by a bullet. The individual was evaluated at the scene and did not require hospital transportation.
Police said preliminary findings indicated that the shooting followed a disagreement involving an order that the customer allegedly believed had been prepared incorrectly.
Investigators also confirmed that neither employee knew the suspect before the incident.
Police Identify and Arrest Suspect
Authorities identified the suspect as Hassan Mohamed, 25, of Des Moines, Iowa.
According to investigators, officers used restaurant surveillance footage and automated license plate reader technology to identify the vehicle believed to have been involved in the shooting.
Police subsequently located Mohamed at a nearby WoodSpring Suites hotel in Ankeny. He was arrested without incident approximately one hour after the shooting, with assistance from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Mohamed faces two counts of attempted murder, two counts of intimidation with a dangerous weapon, one count of willful injury causing bodily injury and one count of willful injury causing serious injury.
The charges relate to allegations surrounding the shooting and remain subject to court proceedings.
Investigation Continues
The shooting has raised concerns about workplace safety, particularly for employees working in customer-facing positions during late-night hours.
Ankeny police said the investigation remains ongoing. Authorities have also indicated that there is no continuing threat to the public following the suspect’s arrest.
Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the confrontation and gather evidence connected to the incident.
The case is expected to proceed through the Iowa judicial system as prosecutors pursue the charges against the accused.
Further updates are expected as additional information becomes available from law enforcement and court officials.