It was all over a pack of cigarettes.
A 19-year-old Iowa man was shot dead after stealing his dad's truck, trying to outrun police and then ramming cop cars on the campus of Iowa State University.

James Comstock, of Ames, told The Des Moines Register his son flipped out because he refused to buy him some smokes.

The father and son were at a landscaping site together on Monday when they got in a fight and Tyler fled in his dad's white pickup, according to James Comstock and police recordings published on the Register's website.

"He took off with my truck. I call the police, and they kill him," James Comstock told the Register. "It was over a damn pack of cigarettes. I wouldn't buy him none."

Harrowing dash cam footage caught the police pursuit of Tyler, which hit speeds of 70 mph and ended in a demolition derby-style smash-up on a lawn on Iowa State's central campus.

After ramming a police cruiser with the truck's trailer, Comstock blew through a light at Lincoln Way and Beach Ave. and roared onto some grass near ISU's Campanile bell tower, sending pedestrians scurrying.

Two patrol cars tried to ram and cripple the truck, but Comstock evaded, and eventually stopped next to a tree.

Moments later, Comstock plowed into Ames Police Officer Adam McPherson's cruiser as McPherson got out, sending debris flying.

McPherson fired six shots into the truck, striking Comstock twice.

James Comstock reported the truck stolen to police. The two were at a landscaping site together on Monday when Tyler got angry and drove off in his truck.

James Comstock reported the truck stolen to police. The two were at a landscaping site together on Monday when Tyler got angry and drove off in his truck.

He was pronounced dead later an Ames hospital.
His family told the Register they are outraged over the shooting, as recordings surfaced showing an Ames police staffer told the cops twice to back off their pursuit.

"So he didn't shut the damn truck off, so let's fire six rounds at him? We're confused, and we don't understand," Tyler's great-grandfather, Gary Shepley, 65, told the Register.

Ames Police Officer Adam McPherson fired six shots into the truck after Comstock rammed his patrol car. County prosecutors cleared him of any wrongdoing, saying he was justified in using deadly force.

The Story County prosecutor on Thursday said McPherson was justified in using deadly force and cleared him of any wrongdoing.

"I'm very saddened by this, but I'm also relieved that no one else was injured or killed, especially the officers," county prosecutor Stephen Holmes said.

In the recordings, an unnamed police staffer suggested over the radio that the officers to back off as Comstock approached the campus.

"If he's that reckless coming into to the college area, why don't you back off," the staffer said.

A few moments later, he said, "We know the suspect, so we can probably back it off."

Tyler's family said the 19-year-old had struggled since dropping out of high school but was trying to get his life back on track.

He was living in Boone, about 20 minutes away, trying to earn his GED and attending Bible study, his father told the Register.

His funeral was to be held on Friday morning.
"He called me every night, trying to straighten his life out," James Comstock said.