Des Moines police arrest 13 year old in relation to murder case

Des Moines police had already arrested two teenagers in relation to a May murder. Now they have a third suspect and the charges continue to grow.

Des Moines investigators previously arrested a 14 year old and a 15 year old. On Monday, they went to Pacific Middle School and arrested a 13-year-old boy. The teen suspect has been interviewed and the investigation continues.

“We learned that while he didn’t participate in the homicide himself, he had involvement in the burglary where the firearm used in the homicide was stolen — from a residence here in Des Moines,” said Sgt. Doug Jenkins with the Des Moines Po,lice Department. “He was also directly involved with the stolen vehicle that was used as a getaway vehicle after the homicide.”

“He is not the gunman, however, he was present at the homicide scene. He did not participate directly in it, but he was there,” he said.

The murder of a 41-year-old Kent resident occurred on May 6. A stolen vehicle that the suspects used as a getaway car was found abandoned on May 7 in Des Moines.

The 13 year old has been booked into the King County Youth Center in Seattle on charges of investigation into first-degree burglary, possession of a stolen vehicles, and theft of a firearm.

Jenkins said that the investigation is still ongoing and that more arrests could be coming depending on how it goes.

The Seattle Times reports that the murder occurred in an apartment complex parking lot when the suspects and the victim got into some sort of confrontation. The 15 year old is suspected to have fired the gun. The 14 year old is also held on charges of possession of a stolen firearm and burglary.

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