Iowa Man Acquitted in School Shooting Case
In a courtroom decision that arrived a month after another individual’s conviction, jurors have cleared Bravon Tukes, a 20-year-old from Iowa, of murder charges related to the shooting deaths of two students at a Des Moines alternative school.
Tukes faced two counts of first-degree murder, as well as single counts of attempted murder, criminal gang participation, and willful injury causing serious injury. The verdict was delivered by the Des Moines Register.
The preceding month had seen 19-year-old Preston Walls convicted for his role in the January 23 shooting at the Starts Right Here program. Walls faced charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter, and willful injury causing serious injury. Prosecutors had also sought a first-degree murder conviction.
The Not Guilty Verdict and Tukes’s Reaction
When the judge declared the not guilty verdicts, a relieved Bravon Tukes shared a hug with one of his attorneys.
The Tragic Incident
The shooting incident took place at the Starts Right Here program, located on the outskirts of downtown Des Moines. Two students, Gionni Dameron (18) and Rashad Carr (16), lost their lives in the event. Will Keeps, the founder of the program, was wounded when he tried to intervene. Keeps, a former Chicago gang member and rapper, established the program to support at-risk teens.
Dispute Between Gangs
Prosecutors argued that the shootings arose from a dispute between members of different gangs.
Different Stories in Court
Preston Walls admitted to the shooting but claimed he brought a gun to school because he felt threatened and feared for his life due to threats from the other students.
Bravon Tukes, who had driven Walls away from the scene after the shooting, argued in his defense that he had not planned the shooting. Walls testified during Tukes’s trial, supporting the claim that his friend played no role in the shootings.
Disagreement Over the Verdict
Polk County Attorney Kimberly Graham expressed her disagreement with the verdict in a statement. She said, “We believe the evidence was clear that Mr. Tukes conspired with fellow gang member Preston Walls for at least a month before the killings. Mr. Tukes aided Mr. Walls by meeting him a half-mile from the crime scene and driving Mr. Walls away from the area.” Regardless of the verdicts, the incident remains a tragic event, leaving the community and the affected families in grief.