The quiet streets of Glenwood, Iowa, were shattered this past week by a violent sequence of events that left three people dead and a community reeling. Residents are struggling to process the tragedy that unfolded on Wednesday evening, August 6, 2025, when a neighborly dispute escalated into a deadly shooting and a fiery explosion, culminating in the death of the alleged perpetrator.
According to the Associated Press and statements from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, 71-year-old Dennis Burnell shot and killed his neighbors, Brandon Oman, 38, and Stevie Oman, 35, outside his home. The Omans, who lived directly across the street from Burnell on the same block in Glenwood, were well-known in the area and leave behind a young daughter, as confirmed by their obituaries and county property records.
Authorities report that the fatal confrontation began with a dispute between Burnell and the Omans. The details of the argument remain under investigation, but what followed was a swift and tragic escalation. After the shooting, witnesses described hearing a powerful explosion from within Burnell’s home. By the time law enforcement arrived in response to reports of gunfire, the house was already engulfed in flames.
“There was an explosion in Burnell’s house before the fire,” witnesses told police, as cited by the Associated Press. The scene was chaotic and harrowing, with neighbors and first responders alike struggling to comprehend the devastation. Officers found Burnell outside his burning home, suffering from extensive burns.
Burnell was transported to the Kansas University Medical Center Burn Unit, where he succumbed to his injuries two days later on Friday, August 8, 2025. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation confirmed his death in a news release, closing a grim chapter in the city’s history but leaving many questions and wounds behind.
Glenwood, a small city nestled in Mills County, is not accustomed to such violence. The Omans’ deaths have sent shockwaves through the community, where neighbors are now left to grapple with grief and fear. The couple’s daughter, now orphaned, is at the center of local concern and support efforts as residents try to come to terms with the senseless loss.
Law enforcement officials revealed that this was not the first time Burnell had come to their attention. “Law enforcement had been called to Burnell’s house for disputes in the past,” Glenwood Police Chief Eric Johansen told reporters in the hours that followed the shooting. The frequency and nature of these previous incidents have become a focal point for those seeking to understand whether more could have been done to prevent the tragedy.
Further scrutiny of public records shows that Burnell had a documented history of conflict with his neighbors. In August 2024, just a year before the fatal incident, Burnell was found guilty of third-degree harassment involving another neighbor. He was fined more than $100, according to online court documents. While the specifics of that case remain sealed, the conviction underscores a pattern of tension and escalation that, in hindsight, appears tragically foreboding.
The events of August 6 unfolded rapidly. After the initial dispute, Burnell reportedly shot the Omans outside his home. Details about the weapon used and the exact sequence of events have not been released, but authorities have confirmed that both Brandon and Stevie Oman died at the scene. The subsequent explosion in Burnell’s residence remains under investigation, with officials working to determine whether it was intentional or accidental. What is clear is that the explosion compounded the horror of the evening, putting first responders at risk and further traumatizing the neighborhood.
“The officers who responded to reports of the shooting found the home engulfed in flames,” the Associated Press reported, citing official sources. Emergency crews battled the blaze as they attempted to secure the area and tend to the wounded. The fire, combined with the earlier violence, left the property a charred shell and erased any hope for answers from Burnell, who was critically injured in the incident.
The Mills County community, already stunned by the deaths of Brandon and Stevie Oman, was further rattled by Burnell’s passing. His death at the Kansas University Medical Center Burn Unit on August 8 closed the criminal investigation but left a host of unresolved issues in its wake. With all three principal figures in the tragedy now deceased, investigators are relying on witness statements, forensic evidence, and public records to piece together the full story.
The Omans’ obituaries have become a focal point for community mourning, with friends and relatives describing the couple as devoted parents and active neighbors. Their daughter’s future—now shadowed by unimaginable loss—has become a rallying point for local support groups and charitable efforts. “The couple has a daughter,” the obituaries confirmed, a simple statement that now carries immense weight for all who knew the family.
As the investigation continues, questions linger about the adequacy of previous interventions and whether warning signs were missed. Burnell’s history of disputes and his prior harassment conviction have prompted renewed calls for better mechanisms to address escalating neighbor conflicts before they turn deadly. Glenwood Police Chief Eric Johansen and other local officials have acknowledged the challenges of balancing individual rights with community safety, especially in cases involving older residents and ongoing feuds.
The tragedy in Glenwood is not an isolated incident in Iowa this summer. In a separate event, a large tree fell on a truck in Waterloo during a storm, killing one person and injuring another. While unrelated, the back-to-back tragedies have left many Iowans feeling vulnerable and anxious about the unpredictable dangers facing their communities.
For now, Glenwood’s residents are left to mourn, reflect, and seek solace in each other. The deaths of Brandon and Stevie Oman, and the violent end of Dennis Burnell, have left an indelible mark on the city. As the community gathers for memorials and support, the hope is that lessons learned from this heartbreaking episode will help prevent similar tragedies in the future. The story of Glenwood is now a somber reminder of the devastating consequences that can arise from unresolved conflict and the importance of vigilance, compassion, and community in the face of adversity.