James Cowart
1931
James Joshua Cowart.
How He Died
Manner
Homicide
Cause
Gunshot wound
Mechanism
Firearm
What Happened
Sergeant James Cowart was shot and killed by a former deputy sheriff he had arrested five years earlier. He was at home when the subject knocked on his door at 6:30 a.m. When he answered it, the subject, standing in the yard, fired multiple shots through the glass-enclosed porch, striking Sergeant Cowart in the stomach. Arriving officers found the subject fatally wounded after his shotgun accidentally discharged as he attempted to dismantle it. Sergeant Cowart had served with the Des Moines Police Department for nine years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
Service Record
Also Served
Des Moines Police Department
Sergeant
In Our Keeping
Permanent identifier
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Record added
August 2, 2026
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Last updated
August 2, 2026
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