Three suspects were arrested on Monday after two students were killed and an adult employee was injured in what police said was a targeted shooting at a Des Moines school for at-risk youth.
According to police, emergency crews were dispatched to Starts Right Here, an alternative school associated with the Des Moines school district, located in a business park just before 1 p.m. Upon arrival, officers discovered two students suffering from critical injuries and immediately began administering CPR.
Both students died after being transported to a hospital, according to police. An adult employee of the school also sustained injuries and is currently in serious condition and was expected to undergo surgery on Monday afternoon.
Police did not reveal the ages of the deceased students.
Officers apprehended a vehicle matching the descriptions provided by witnesses about 20 minutes after the shooting. The car was traced to an apartment located approximately two miles away. According to police, one of the suspects attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended using a K-9 unit and taken into custody, along with the other two suspects.
The shooters’ motives are unknown, but Parizek said police were investigating. He noted that “often we’re all left wondering [about the motive].”
Starts Right Here
Starts Right Here is a program that aims to inspire and motivate youth in Des Moines Public Schools who are deemed at risk. The program was started by rapper Will Holmes, whose stage name is Will Keeps.According to the program’s website, Holmes has used songs to send messages about violence in Iowa. “Wake Up Iowa,” one of his songs, “sends a message to people that violence and hate are not the Iowa way, and instead, we need to learn from other cities’ mistakes, so we don’t end up being ravaged by violence and crime.”
The Epoch Times contacted Holmes for comment.
The Starts Right Here website states that the program serves primarily minority students, with 70 percent of its student population being minorities, and that it has had 28 graduates since its inception. The school district reported that the program serves 40–50 students at any given time.
“These are supposed to be our safe spaces, and this school in particular, it’s one that the police department works very closely with, and the school’s designed to pick up the slack and help kids who need help the most,” Parizek said. “The ones who aren’t getting the services that they need for a variety of different reasons.”
The Des Moines school district addressed the shooting in a statement.
“We are saddened to learn of another act of gun violence, especially one that impacts an organization that works closely with some of our students,” the statement read. “We are still waiting to learn more details, but our thoughts are with any victims of this incident and their families and friends.”
Additionally, the district reported that no district employees were present at the school during the time of the shooting.
Gov. Kim Reynolds, who is part of an advisory board for Starts Right Here, said she was “shocked and saddened to hear about the shooting.”
“I’ve seen first-hand how hard Will Keeps and his staff works to help at-risk kids through this alternative education program,” Reynolds said in a statement. “My heart breaks for them, these kids and their families. Kevin and I are praying for their safe recovery.”
