Fort Dodge Police Continue Search for Person of Interest in December Homicide

Lewis Ayala

The Fort Dodge Police Department continues to ask for the public’s help in finding a person of interest in the late December shooting death of Ryan Andrews.

As of Thursday afternoon, the Fort Dodge Police Department has not located 49‐year‐old Lewis E. Ayala of Fort Dodge, who is wanted for questioning in Andrews homicide.

Ayala is described as 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighing approximately

145 pounds, with brown eyes and short partially gray hair. He is currently wanted out of Webster County for Possession of Firearm as a Felon.

An investigation has been ongoing since December 29, 2023 when Webster County Telecommunications Center received a call that someone had been shot in the 1600 block 14th Ave. S.W.

Officers with the Fort Dodge Police Department and Deputies with the Webster County Sheriffs Office responded to the scene where they located an unresponsive male laying in a yard suffering from what appeared to be a gunshot wound. Officers rendered medical aid to the male until members of the Fort Dodge Fire Department arrived and took over. The male was transported by ambulance to Unity Point Trinity Regional Medical Center where he was later pronounced deceased.

Anyone with information as to Ayala’s whereabouts is urged to call Webster County Crime Stoppers at 515-573-1444.