Arr, a young scallywag from Iowa be found guilty o' murderin' and slayin' fellow students. Walk the plank, lad!
2023-09-15
Arr, me hearties! News be spreadin' like wildfire! A jury be havin' the scallywag Iowa teen walk the plank for second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter. The lad be shootin' two poor souls at a Des Moines alternative school. Shiver me timbers, justice be served!
An Iowa teenager named Preston Walls has been found guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter in the deaths of two students at a Des Moines alternative school. Initially charged with first-degree murder, Walls was convicted of lesser charges, indicating that the jury accepted his claim that he shot the students out of fear for his own life. The victims, Gionni Dameron and Rashad Carr, were killed at the Starts Right Here program on January 23. Walls was also found guilty of willful injury causing serious injury for shooting Will Keeps, the leader of the program. However, Walls was acquitted of attempted murder in Keeps' shooting.Had Walls been convicted of first-degree murder, he would have faced a mandatory life sentence, but his conviction on lesser charges means he will be eligible for parole. Sentencing is scheduled for November. Defense attorneys argued that Walls believed his life was in danger and killed the students and shot Keeps out of self-defense. They pointed out that Dameron was armed with a gun on the day of the shooting. Walls admitted to shooting Carr nine times, Dameron thirteen times, and hitting Keeps twice when questioned by prosecutors.
Another individual, Bravon Tukes, is set to stand trial for murder on October 2. Prosecutors argued that Walls was affiliated with a gang that had disputes with a rival gang, which included Dameron and Carr. However, the families of the victims denied that their children were gang members.
Despite the tragedy, the Starts Right Here program reopened shortly after the shooting, and Keeps returned despite his injuries. The program, which is connected to Des Moines public schools, continues to operate with around 30 students. The families of Carr and Dameron have filed a lawsuit against the program and Keeps, claiming that they failed to provide a safe environment.