Iowa teen on trial for killing 2 students claims self-defense.
An Iowa Teenager’s Fearful Act: Shooting at an Alternative Educational Program
An Iowa teenager found himself in a life-threatening situation when he tragically shot two fellow students at an alternative educational program for at-risk youth. Contrary to the prosecution’s claim that it was a premeditated attack on rival gang members, the teenager’s lawyer asserts that he acted out of fear for his own life.
Preston Walls, 19, along with another student, faces charges for the shooting that took place on January 23 at the Starts Right Here program. The incident resulted in the deaths of 18-year-old Gionni Dameron and 16-year-old Rashad Carr. The families of the victims have vehemently denied any involvement in gangs.
The founder of the school, Will Keeps, who himself is a former gang member, was wounded while attempting to intervene and stop the violence. He continues to suffer from lingering injuries.
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As the trial of Mr. Walls commenced, his attorney, Glen Downey, revealed that his client acknowledges pulling the trigger but did so out of a desperate desire to survive. “Preston decided he didn’t want to go home to his family in a pine box,” Mr. Downey stated.
Prosecutor Stephanie Cox informed the jurors that they would hear testimony from Mr. Keeps and witness footage of the shootings. “You will watch a video and you will see with your own eyes Preston Walls shoot 30 times,” Ms. Cox asserted.
Mr. Walls faces charges of two counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and criminal gang participation. The process of selecting the jury took over three days.
Bravon Tukes, also 19 years old, is scheduled to stand trial on the same charges on October 2. Police allege that Mr. Walls fired the shots before fleeing in a car driven by Mr. Tukes.
The prosecution presented their case by playing a graphic police bodycam video that depicted the chaotic scene when officers arrived. Jurors witnessed the victims lying on the school floor and observed an officer attempting CPR on one of the teens.
Lieutenant Andrew Phipps described the overwhelming “smell of gunpowder” upon entering the school, along with the presence of numerous shell casings on the floor.
YaVonne Palmer, an administrator at Starts Right Here, was down the hallway when the shooting erupted. She recalled that the sound of gunfire created such a cacophony that it resembled the shattering of a cupboard full of dishes.
Initially, the prosecution sought to try Mr. Walls and Mr. Tukes together. However, at the request of Mr. Tukes’ lawyer, who plans to utilize Mr. Walls’ testimony in his client’s defense, the judge decided to separate the proceedings. The trial for Mr. Walls is expected to last approximately one week.
Less than an hour after the shooting at the school on the outskirts of downtown Des Moines, police apprehended Mr. Walls.
The alternative program, which is affiliated with the Des Moines public schools, temporarily closed following the incident but reopened within a few weeks. Currently, around 30 students attend the program.
Mr. Keeps, the school’s founder, was a 15-year-old member of a Chi
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