Affidavits Provide Insight Into Glenwood Shooting

Charges have been filed against three people involved in a Sept. 27 altercation in Glenwood that escalated into a shooting outside the home of Glenwood Community High School principal Richard Hutchinson. The incident occurred around 5:45 p.m. near 209 N. Myrtle St., Hutchinson’s residence.

Denver Cook, 18 of Glenwood, is charged with willful injury, a class “C” felony, and assault causing bodily injury, a serious misdemeanor.

Colton McDaniel, 21 of Glenwood, is charged with assault causing bodily injury, a serious misdemeanor.

Hurl Beechum, III, 42, of Queen Creek, Ariz., is charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon, a class “C” felony; willful injury, a class “D” felony; going armed with intent, a class “D” felony; and assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, an aggravated misdemeanor.

According to affidavits filed in Mills County District Court by special agent Daniel Dawson of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, McDaniel, Cook, Kameron Myers, and three juvenile females were walking south on North Myrtle Street when approaching the intersection near the Hutchinson residence. Hutchinson and his wife, Randi, were cleaning their car in the driveway, located at the southeast corner of the intersection. As the group of six walked into the intersection of North Myrtle and Third Street, one of the juveniles uttered a racial slur while talking on her cell phone.

After hearing the racial slur, Randi Hutchinson attempted to verbally correct the group about the inappropriateness of the comment. The group of six people continued through the intersection and proceeded east on Third Street past the side of the Hutchinson residence, which is located on a corner lot.

Richard Hutchinson then walked from the front of his house (on North Myrtle Street) around the side of his home to the back side of his residence (along 3rd Street) where he made contact with the group and asked them why they used the slur.

At that point, the group of individuals stopped walking and began to argue with Richard Hutchinson. Randi Hutchison went into her residence and called for Beechum, her son, to come help his stepfather. During this verbal argument, McDaniel faced Richard Hutchinson in an aggressive posture and escalated the argument to such an extent where other members of the group attempted to use portions of their body to act as a buffer between Hutchinson and McDaniel, according to Dawson’s affidavit.

While this verbal argument ensued, a threat of physical assault was made toward Richard Hutchinson. Beechum then approached the group and the altercation ensued.

Near the beginning of the altercation, Dawson said Cook punched Richard Hutchinson in the face, which resulted in Richard Hutchinson losing consciousness and falling to the ground. Cook and McDaniel then began to physically assault Beechum by kicking and punching him, according to Dawson.

At the conclusion of the altercation, all parties were gathered around Richard Hutchinson, except Beechum, who had gone back into the residence to retrieve a 9mm Taurus handgun.

When Beechum returned to the group, McDaniel was squatting over Richard Hutchinson, who was being cared for by his wife. As he approached the group with the gun, Dawson said Beechum exclaimed, “You want to talk sh** now, mother f****r?”

Beechum then proceeded to shoot McDaniel, who was struck on the outer portion of his left thigh and his right ankle.

At that point, Dawson said, Cook moved toward Beechum, who responded by pointing the gun at Cook’s chest and stating, “You want to keep talking?”

McDaniel and his group then left the scene. Law enforcement officers arrived moments later, where the Hutchinsons and Beechum were present.

Dawson said Beechum held out his hands with a handgun and told officers, “They jumped us, so I had to shoot him.” The gun was secured and the other parties were located a block away.

Beechum and Hutchinson were transported by Glenwood Rescue to Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs. McDaniel was transported to Creighton Medical Center in Omaha. None of the injuries were life threatening.

McDaniel and Cook had appearances Wednesday, Sept. 30, afternoon in Mills County Magistrate Court. Bond was set at $1,000 for McDaniel, who has a preliminary hearing set for Oct. 20. Cook’s bond was set at $10,000 and his preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 8.

James Martin Davis is representing McDaniel and Council Bluffs attorney Pat Sondag has been appointed to represent Cook.

Beechum initially returned to Arizona after being released from the hospital, but turned himself in to Mills County authorities Saturday. He was released after posting $10,000 cash bond and is being represented by Glenwood attorney DeShawne Bird-Sell. He appeared in magistrate court Monday and has a preliminary hearing set for Oct. 23.

Davis said he expected his client to be charged with a misdemeanor.

“He (McDaniel) didn’t start that fight,” Davis said. “You can see that. He’s the victim in this case. He got shot and it was the principal’s stepson that shot him. There’s no justification for that at all. The only time somebody is entitled to use deadly force is to protect themselves from deadly force and that’s something that should have never happened. This escalated from a few words to a scuffle to a criminal felonious shooting and that should have never happened.”

Davis said felony charges against Beechum are warranted.

“He deserves to be charged with shooting my client. Colton was unarmed and this man came running at him,” Davis said. “First of all, he put the gun to his (Colton’s) head and said he was going to shoot and Colton talked him out of it saying, ‘I’m here to help your friend.’ Colton didn’t know it was his stepdad. I’m not sure how many shots were fired, but my client has two entry wounds and two exit wounds and he’s not going to be able to walk for three to five months because of what happened.”

Davis said he “absolutely” feels the fight was instigated and escalated by Richard Hutchinson’s actions.

“He (Hutchinson) was the one who came out and asked what the problem was. They were just walking down the street. My client didn’t even know this principal,” Davis said. “I don’t know what words were said, but my client never said anything or heard anything that was derogatory. We’re not going to let them use a racial card to justify a shooting because that had nothing to do with my client being there.”

When contacted at his home Wednesday afternoon, Hutchinson declined to comment on the altercation. Hutchinson did return to his job late last week in time to oversee homecoming activities at the school.

In an interview with The Opinion-Tribune Friday, Mills County Attorney Tricia McSorley said when determining what charges to file in the case, consideration was given to all nine people present during the altercation.

“We did look at all parties,” McSorley said. “We do believe the appropriate charges against the appropriate people were filed.”

McSorley added, “The situation was escalated by everyone involved.”

Dawson said in his affidavit one of the female juveniles in McDaniel and Cook’s group was the person who called 911 to report the incident. Dawson made a point to note there were never any calls placed to 911 or law enforcement by Beechum or the Hutchinsons.

Telephone messages left at the offices of the attorneys representing Beechum and Cook had not been returned as of press time.