Police arrest Des Moines man in 17-year-old's shooting death
Javell D. Williams, 28, charged with first-degree murder, first-degree robbery
Javell D. Williams, 28, charged with first-degree murder, first-degree robbery
Javell D. Williams, 28, charged with first-degree murder, first-degree robbery
Police have arrested a Des Moines man in connection with the shooting death of a 17-year-old high school student, the city’s fourth homicide so far this year.
Des Moines police Sgt. Paul Parizek said 28-year-old Javell D. Williams has been charged with first-degree murder and first-degree robbery in Donzell Martin’s death. Additional arrests are expected, authorities said.
Martin was reportedly shot in the 1700 block of East 12th Street. He was taken via private vehicle to Mercy Medical Center, where he died.
Brad Tukes, who has known Martin since sixth grade, said, “Donzell is a caring person, a loving person.”
“It just hurts,” Tukes said. “(It’s) a different kind of pain because that was, like, my brother. … I just want justice for my brother.”
Martin’s death is devastating for those who knew him yet frightening for those who didn’t.
“It’s so sad,” said Shanean Yaw, who lives in the neighborhood where the shooting happened. “It’s so young. It’s such a young life just gone.”
Yaw said she didn’t hear the gunshots Sunday, but she saw a heavy police presence near the crime scene.
“I went up to ask the officers what was going on because I have children,” she said.
Parizek said witnesses helped investigators develop a motive and leads in the case.
“I think the collective heart of our community is about fed up with it,” he said. “We’ve had great witness cooperation in this case, and I think people are just tired of seeing young kids die. So I think they are going to step up and do the right thing.”
Martin is the third teenager to be shot – and the second to die – within the last 10 days.
Meanwhile, community members said they hope to never see violence in their neighborhood again.
“I never had it this close, not this close,” Yaw said.