2 students were killed in a Des Moines shooting. Here's what we know:
Two students were killed and an employee was seriously injured in a shooting at Starts Right Here, an educational mentorship program in downtown Des Moines.
Here's what we know so far.
Where did the shooting happen?
It was reported just before 1 p.m. Monday at Starts Right Here, located at 455 S.W. Fifth St. in an office park on the southern edge of downtown Des Moines.
More:2 students dead, nonprofit founder Will Keeps in serious condition in Des Moines shooting
What did police see when they got there?
Police found the two students aged 16 and 18 in very critical condition. Officers performed CPR until medical personnel could transport them to the hospital, where they died.
The CEO and founder of Starts Right Here, Will Holmes, who goes by Will Keeps, was seriously injured and was to undergo surgery Monday.
More:Starts Right Here board: We will not let shooting stop what 'we are called to do'
Witnesses to the shootings gave officers a description of a vehicle. Police were able to track it down and stop it about 2 miles south of Starts Right Here near MacRae Park. Police spokesperson Sgt. Paul Parizek said one person fled from the vehicle and was tracked down by a K-9 officer. He said two others remained in the car and that all three were taken into custody.
Who were the students who died?
Police released the identities of the victims Tuesday afternoon: 18-year-old Des Moines resident Gionni Dameron and 16-year-old Des Moines resident Rashad Carr.
More:Victims identified in Des Moines shooting at Starts Right Here
Starts Right Here founder Will Keeps injured
Will Holmes, who is known by his stage name Will Keeps, was seriously injured and remained hospitalized in serious, but stable condition as of Tuesday, according to a statement on behalf of his family.
More:What we know about injured founder Will Keeps and Starts Right Here, where shooting killed 2
Who were the shooters?
Late Monday, police charged 18-year-old West Des Moines resident Preston Walls with two counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder and criminal gang participation.
Parizek said in a news release that Walls was allegedly armed with a 9mm handgun with an extended ammunition magazine at Starts Right Here. Holmes attempted to escort him out of the building when Walls allegedly started shooting at the teenagers.
"Walls, and both deceased victims, are known gang members, belonging to opposing gangs, and evidence indicates that that these crimes were committed as a result of an ongoing gang dispute," Parizek said in the release.
Along with Walls, two others were taken into custody about 20 minutes after the shooting. Parizek said the other two were released without charges in a release Tuesday morning.
What is Starts Right Here?
Founded by local rapper and activist Will Holmes, Starts Right Here helps re-engage students in the Des Moines school district's Options Academy credit recovery program, the district said in a news release. It said the group supports students no longer in a school building due to behavioral issues.
The program was started as a partnership with Des Moines Public Schools in 2021.
Is Starts Right Here a Des Moines charter school?
Starts Right Here is not a charter school, but the founder was a proponent of expanding Iowa's charter school law in 2021. Gov. Kim Reynolds’ signed the charter school law in May 2021 at Starts Right Here.
In July 2021, Holmes told the Register he was considering starting a charter school for at-risk youth.
More:What people are saying about the Des Moines shooting that killed 2 students
Was this a mass shooting?
There's no single consensus on the definition but most organizations would not consider the Des Moines shooting a mass shooting.
The Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit research group, defines a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more people are shot or killed, not including the shooter.
In contrast, Everytown currently defines it as a shooting in which four or more people are shot and killed, again excluding the shooter.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation doesn't have a mass shooting definition. Instead, the FBI defines "mass murder" as an incident where four or more people are killed, which can include gun violence.
USA Today contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines shooting: What we know about victims, shooter and more
