Trial Set to Begin for Teen Accused of Murder in Des Moines School Shooting
The trial is set to begin this week for one of the teenagers charged with murder in a tragic shooting that took place at an alternative school in Des Moines. The incident left two students dead and the program’s founder injured. Preston Walls, 19, is the first of the two teens to stand trial, facing charges of two counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and criminal gang participation. His co-defendant, Bravon Tukes, 19, will face trial on the same charges in October.
The deadly shooting occurred on January 23 at Starts Right Here, which is an alternative program designed for at-risk students and associated with the Des Moines public schools. Two students, Gionni Dameron, 18, and Rashad Carr, 16, lost their lives in the incident. Will Keeps, the founder of the school, also suffered severe injuries but has since recovered.
According to court documents, Preston Walls entered the school armed with a handgun. Mr. Keeps attempted to intervene, but Walls broke free and proceeded to shoot Dameron, Carr, and Mr. Keeps. Walls then fled the building and got into a getaway car driven by Bravon Tukes. Despite receiving immediate medical attention, the two teenage victims succumbed to their injuries.
Prosecutors assert that the shooting was the result of a gang dispute, highlighting a rap video posted by Carr on YouTube that referenced the police shooting death of Tukes’ half-brother. However, family members of the victims deny their involvement in any gang activities.
As the trial approaches, both the defense attorneys and the prosecutors have refrained from commenting on the case.
Originally, the prosecution planned to have a single trial for both Walls and Tukes. However, a judge in April decided to separate the proceedings to allow one of the teens to testify in defense of the other. Mr. Tukes’ attorneys requested the separation, stating that Walls had claimed Tukes was not involved in the shooting. They hope that Walls will testify in Tukes’ defense.
Preston Walls was arrested just minutes after the shooting, while Bravon Tukes was apprehended several days later.
Starts Right Here resumed its operations around a month after the tragic incident. With enhanced security measures such as the presence of guards and metal detectors, the alternative program welcomed a new group of students as the Des Moines schools reopened for the fall semester. The program currently caters to 30 students.
Interestingly, Mr. Keeps, the founder of the school, recently announced that he has written a memoir documenting his life growing up in Chicago and his subsequent transformation in Des Moines. The book, scheduled for release in October, sheds light on his experiences as a rapper and community activist.
Apart from the upcoming trial, the school and Mr. Keeps are also facing a lawsuit filed by the families of the victims who accuse them of failing to provide adequate protection. The trial for this lawsuit is set for September 23, 2024.
Looking back on the tragedy, Mr. Keeps expressed his ongoing sorrow for the loss of the three students and the potential life sentence that awaits Preston Walls. He mourns the fact that these young individuals, who were making progress in their lives, had their futures taken away by the influence of the street life.
As proceedings commence in the trial of Preston Walls, all eyes are on the courtroom, waiting for justice to be served and hoping for a resolution that brings some solace to the grieving families and affected community.
