Big Showdown Looms in School Shooting Trial: Teens Face Murder Charges
Hold onto your hats, folks! It’s trial time for the first of two teens caught up in a real-life crime saga at a Des Moines alternative school. Buckle up, because we’ve got all the details on this roller coaster ride of courtroom drama.
Who’s in the Hot Seat?
Say hello to Preston Walls, 19, stepping up to face the music. He’s on trial for a double whammy of first-degree murder charges, plus a sprinkling of attempted murder and gang-related antics. But that’s not all, folks! Brace yourselves for Bravon Tukes, 19, who’ll have his turn in the spotlight on Oct. 2 with a matching menu of charges.
A Heartbreaking Tragedy
Picture this: a gloomy day at Starts Right Here, the alternative program where trouble seems to have knocked on the door. Two young guns, Gionni Dameron and Rashad Carr, lost their lives in a shocking shooting. And guess what? Will Keeps, the big cheese of the school, got a piece of the action too, but he’s bounced back like a champ.
The Big Bang
Boom! The shooting went down right when the sun was high in the sky. Imagine a small office park on the edge of downtown Des Moines – that’s where the chaos unfolded.
According to sneaky court documents, Walls strutted in with a gun, blending right in with the student crowd. Keeps tried to put a stop to the madness, but Walls went all Houdini, slipped away, and chaos broke loose. Shots rang out, hitting Dameron, Carr, and Keeps. And guess what? Walls made a grand exit, hopping into a getaway car driven by none other than Tukes.
The Twisted Web of a Crime
Hold onto your seat for this twist! Court papers spill the beans – this wild ride was fueled by a feud between gangs. Carr dropped a YouTube rap video that threw shade at the police shooting of Tukes’ half-bro. In the tangled world of rival gangs, this was a recipe for disaster. But hold your horses, Carr’s family insists he wasn’t in the gang game.
Two Trials, Double Trouble
Here’s where it gets spicy! Prosecutors originally planned a two-for-one trial deal for Walls and Tukes. But a judge pumped the brakes, split the show, and set the stage for Walls to play star witness in Tukes’ defense.
What’s Up with the School?
Fear not, the school’s back in action after the storm. More kids are strutting through those doors, and the program’s got a cool new look with security upgrades, like guards and metal detectors.
And here’s the cherry on top – Keeps, the superhero behind the school, spilled the beans about his life in a memoir. From Chicago gang life to a fresh start in Des Moines, he’s got a story to tell. And guess when you can dive into this page-turner? October, folks!
Aftermath and Future Troubles
Hold onto your hats for the drama that’s still brewing! The families of the victims threw down a lawsuit against the school and Keeps for not keeping their kids safe. Get ready for a courtroom showdown set for September 2024.
In an exclusive chat about a month after the madness, Keeps spilled the beans. It’s clear he’s got a heavy heart for the lives lost and the tough road ahead for Walls. “Three young guns who were on the up and up, all swallowed by that street life – it’s a tough pill to swallow,” Keeps said. “I lost three kids that day.”
So there you have it, folks! The scoop on the wild ride of a trial that’s about to unfold. Keep your eyes peeled for the latest, because this courtroom saga is bound to be one for the books! 🕵️♂️