The fatal July collision in the Storm Lake Walmart parking lot — a case that’s ignited a wave of social media outrage — won’t result in criminal charges, after investigators concluded the driver committed no crime under Iowa law.
The case has drawn intense attention and debate online, where posts have circulated with misinformation, anger and racially charged commentary about the driver.
The Buena Vista County Attorney’s Office announced yesterday that its review of the Storm Lake Police Department investigation found insufficient evidence to prove any criminal offense in the death of 84‑year‑old Larry Spiess of Alta.
Emergency crews were called to Walmart on North Lake Avenue just after 9:30 a.m. on July 23, when bystanders reported Spiess had been struck by a pickup near the store’s north entrance. He was taken to Buena Vista Regional Medical Center and later transferred to a higher‑level trauma facility, where he died from his injuries.
Police gathered witness statements, accident reconstruction data and extensive video from the parking lot. Investigators determined Spiess had been walking in the eastern portion of the lot when he was hit by a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado driven by 49‑year‑old Valentin Ventura‑Mora of Storm Lake. According to the county attorney’s review, Ventura‑Mora was using his phone in a hands‑free manner allowed under Iowa law and showed no signs of impairment or reckless driving.
County Attorney Paul Allen says the evidence simply doesn’t clear the legal bar for criminal prosecution. He also noted that many Iowa traffic laws don’t apply on private property, meaning certain violations cannot be charged in this setting.
Allen emphasized that the charging decision addresses only whether a crime can be proven under Iowa law. It does not determine civil liability and does not diminish the seriousness of the loss for Spiess’s family. The county attorney’s office is urging residents to use caution in parking lots and other areas where pedestrians and vehicles mix.
