It’s all just been popping off lately, hasn’t it? With so many mass shootings happening so close together, I feel like yesterday’s school shooting in Des Moines won’t garner the attention it should. Then again, I guess that’s why I’m here. But damn, we couldn’t even get through January without another school shooting.
In case you haven’t seen the news, there was a shooting at the Starts Right Here program in Des Moines, Iowa that left two students dead and the school’s founder in serious condition. Starts Right Here is a charter school that specializes in helping at risk youth of high school age. The school was founded by rapper Will Keeps as a way of trying to keep kids out of the gang life that Keeps himself experienced.
The shooter is said to be 18-year-old Preston Walls. Walls reportedly targeted the two victims as part of a gang dispute. Walls allegedly entered the school and saw the two victims along with Keeps in a common area. Keeps tried to get Walls out of the area, but once Keeps approached Walls, the teen opened fire, striking and killing the two boys ages 16 and 18. Keeps was also struck by gunfire and remains hospitalized.
Des Moines police say that Walls was armed with a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol that had an extended magazine. The magazine held 31 rounds, and only three were remaining after the shooting. We’ll get to the gun in a little bit.
Walls fled the scene by car, and police located the vehicle that had three occupants, with Walls being one of them. He fled the scene on foot but was arrested a short time later.
Police also said that Walls was required to wear a court-ordered ankle monitor, but he removed it 16 minutes before the shooting. He was on supervised release for a weapons charge.
The shooting was said to be gang related, with police Sergeant Paul Parizek stating “There was nothing random about this.”
Walls has been charged with two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, and criminal gang participation.
I guess now we can discuss the gun. Why the hell would anyone need a 31-round magazine for a 9 mm pistol? Go ahead, gun nerds. Chime in and tell me why a civilian would need such a large capacity magazine for a handgun. How would you even carry it? In case you were wondering, because I was, Iowa has no restrictions on high-capacity magazines, so fire away, boys. By the way, when police finally caught up with Walls, there were only three rounds remaining in the magazine. He was either low on bullets, or he shot his victims a total of 28 times altogether.
And of course, we have the prerequisite thoughts and prayers. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley tweeted the following…
Im monitoring reports of a shooting in Des Moines at Starts Right Here charter school Thx to first responders & law enforcement for promptly responding Praying for all those affected
This shouldn’t be surprising, since Grassley believes that gun laws will not prevent gun deaths or gun-related violence without improved mental health care. As far as his healthcare record goes, he opposed Obamacare and continues to try to have it repealed. Republicans these days are a bunch of walking oxymorons, with emphasis on the morons.
Republican Governor Kim Reynolds, no relation, sits on an advisory board for Starts Right Here and issued the following statement…
“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.”
Again, that sounds a lot like thoughts and prayers again. Reynolds is also part of the problem, as she signed a bill into law that allowed individuals to purchase and carry handguns without a permit. She must be one of those dumbasses who thinks an armed society is a polite society. In reality, an armed society is just a violent society. I’m also guessing that she has a similar approach to healthcare as Senator Grassley, as she wanted to slash $10 million from Medicaid. Conservatives don’t even pretend to be compassionate anymore.
With people like this in charge, it’s no wonder these shootings keep happening. They won’t be happy until every man, woman, and child is armed, even though it seems like they already are.
Thanks to Lady Gray for the tip.
(Sources)
- Police: 2 students killed, man hurt in Des Moines shooting
- 2 students killed, program founder wounded in shooting at Iowa school for at-risk youth; suspect arrested
- 2 students killed and leader of Des Moines education center hospitalized in shooting; suspect arrested
UPDATE 1/27/2023: The student victims have been identified as 18-year-old Gionni Dameron and 16-year-old Rashad Carr. Family and friends of both victims deny they had any gang involvement.
UPDATE 1/28/2023: A second suspect has been arrested. 19-year-old Bravon Michael Tukes has also been charged with first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder and one count of criminal gang participation. Tukes is said to have been the driver in the car Walls fled the scene in, and is part of the same gang.
UPDATE 1/31/2023: Founder of the school, Will Keeps, has been released from the hospital and is recovering at home. Bail for the suspects have been set at $2.5 million each.
Real Crime with Trench Reynolds 