In a quiet Iowa community, a tense scene unfolded on Saturday afternoon, April 5, 2025, that left residents shaken and authorities scrambling to piece together the details. Jessie Javon Small, an 18-year-old Waterloo local, now sits behind bars, facing a slew of serious charges after an alarming incident involving weapons at the Walmart on Flammang Drive. What began as a routine day of shopping for many turned into a moment of chaos, as police descended on the bustling retail hub to confront a situation that could have ended far worse.
The Waterloo Police Department received the initial call just after 2:15 p.m., with concerned witnesses reporting that three or four individuals were brandishing firearms in the store’s parking lot. For a community like Waterloo, a city of roughly 67,000 people nestled in the heart of Black Hawk County, such a report was jarring. Walmart, a familiar fixture for errands and everyday needs, suddenly became the backdrop for a potential crisis. Officers arrived swiftly, their presence a stark contrast to the usual hum of shopping carts and casual conversation.
By the time law enforcement reached the scene, most of the individuals allegedly involved had scattered, slipping away into the afternoon. But one person remained—a young man who, police say, had taken the bold step of retreating into the store itself. With shoppers still inside, the stakes were high. Officers moved methodically, combing through the aisles and corridors of the sprawling retail space to locate the suspect. Their search led them to Jessie Javon Small, who, upon being spotted, made a desperate bid to escape on foot. The attempt was short-lived. After a brief chase, authorities apprehended him, bringing the immediate threat to a close.
During the arrest, police recovered a handgun, a discovery that underscored the gravity of the situation. Small, barely out of his teenage years, now faces a litany of charges that reflect both the danger he allegedly posed and the defiance he showed in the face of law enforcement. Among the accusations leveled against him are Person Ineligible to Carry Dangerous Weapons, Assault While Displaying a Weapon, Interference with Official Acts, and Possession of Marijuana. Each charge paints a picture of a young man whose actions spiraled far beyond a mere lapse in judgment, thrusting him into a legal battle that could shape his future.
Thankfully, the incident concluded without the sound of gunfire or the sight of blood. No shots were fired, and no one—neither shoppers nor police—was injured. That fact alone offers a measure of relief to a community that might otherwise have been mourning a tragedy. Yet, the absence of physical harm does little to erase the unease left in the wake of such an event. For those who witnessed the police response or heard the sirens cutting through the spring air, the day likely felt like a brush with something far darker.
The Waterloo Police Department has kept its focus on the investigation, which remains active as they work to uncover the full scope of what transpired. Were the other individuals in the parking lot accomplices? What prompted the display of weapons in such a public place? These questions linger, and authorities are determined to find answers. They’ve urged anyone with information to step forward, emphasizing that even the smallest detail could prove critical. For now, the community waits, grappling with the unsettling reality that a routine Saturday could so quickly turn into a headline.
Jessie Javon Small’s arrest marks the end of the immediate incident but the beginning of a longer reckoning. At 18, he stands at a crossroads, his fate now tied to the courts and the evidence that will be laid bare in the days ahead. For Waterloo, the event serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of normalcy—a moment when the everyday collided with the extraordinary, leaving a story that will resonate long after the police tape comes down.
