A somber atmosphere lingers in Muscatine following a deadly shooting at the local Hy-Vee store. Yesterday at about 2 PM, a female customer was fatally shot by an unidentified man, who was quickly apprehended and passed away from his injuries today. The community is coming together to support those affected, with Hy-Vee offering counseling services for employees and customers at Musser Public Library starting at 10 AM today. The store, previously closed for investigation and recovery, has reopened as of noon today, July 1st. Hy-Vee leadership has expressed deep gratitude for the ongoing support from customers and local residents during this difficult time.
Muscatine Mayor Brad Bark said:
Dear Muscatine Community,
I want to offer my deepest thoughts and prayers for the family of Kalista Rae Hallberg, whose life was tragically taken in a senseless act of violence at our Hy-Vee on June 30, 2025. My heart aches for Kalista’s loved ones and friends, who are enduring unimaginable grief. As your Mayor, to every person who witnessed this terrible event, carrying the weight of trauma, and to the employees and customers of Hy-Vee and CBI Bank & Trust, we feel for you deeply and want to assure you that your safety is our priority. We stand with you, holding you in our thoughts and prayers as we navigate this sorrow together.
This act of violence, perpetrated by an individual who does not call Muscatine home, is a shameful affront to the values of our community. It has wounded the spirit of our close-knit community, and I explicitly condemn it. No one should fear for their safety in Muscatine, a place we call home—a place where we shop, gather, and build our lives. This tragedy reminds us how precious and fragile our sense of security is, and it strengthens our resolve to ensure such heartbreak does not define us.
I am extremely grateful for the courage and swift response of the men and women of our Muscatine, IA Police Department, Muscatine Fire Department, Muscatine County Emergency Management/911, Muscatine County Sheriff’s Department, and Iowa State Patrol. We are truly blessed to have these wonderful people who serve our state, county and community with such bravery and professionalism, protecting us in times of crisis. The City of Muscatine, pledges untiring support to our law enforcement as they work diligently to provide answers.
In this time of grief, I ask our community to come together—not just in sorrow, but in hope. Let us honor Kalista’s memory by embracing one another with compassion and kindness. Let us commit to building a safer Muscatine, where every resident feels secure. The City of Muscatine will collaborate with community leaders, law enforcement, and all of you to strengthen violence prevention efforts and foster a future where our children, families, and neighbors can thrive without fear.
Together, we will heal. Together, we will rise stronger. Let us hold Kalista’s family, her loved ones, and all those affected in our hearts as we work to make Muscatine a beacon of unity and peace.
God Bless
Mayor Brad Bark
City of Muscatine
Muscatine Hy-Vee said:
Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Kalista Rae Hallberg of Letts, Iowa. We grieve this loss along with the entire Muscatine community. Today’s violent and tragic events have impacted many of our employees and customers.
To support all who are affected by this tragedy, Hy-Vee is making counselors available to employees and customers beginning Tuesday morning at 10:00 a.m. at the Musser Public Library in Muscatine. All are welcome to come and talk with a counselor as they work through their grief and sadness.
We want to thank the Muscatine Police Department, Fire and Rescue personnel and all others who responded quickly to offer protection to our employees and customers still at the store. We are deeply appreciative of your efforts and kindness.
The Hy-Vee store is closed and will reopen only when the store is customer ready. We anticipate the store reopening at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Please check back for updates.