Des Moines, Iowa — A New Year’s Day marked by violence has left one man dead and another hospitalized following two separate shootings in downtown Des Moines. Authorities responded to the incidents in the early morning hours, around 2:30 a.m., as reports emerged of gunfire in the area.
The first alarming call to emergency services came from an adult male who arrived at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center with a gunshot wound that was not life-threatening. Shortly afterward, police were dispatched to an apartment complex located at 308 Court Avenue. There, they discovered 30-year-old Tony Alexander Young suffering from critical injuries due to gunfire.
Young was promptly taken by medics from the Des Moines Fire Department to UnityPoint Methodist Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries. Police have indicated that they engaged in a swift investigation, culminating in an arrest early Thursday morning. Officers apprehended 31-year-old Jordan Isaac Carmi, who resides at the apartment complex where Young was shot.
Investigators believe that a dispute between the two men escalated to violence, leading to the fatal encounter. Evidence gathered during the investigation led detectives to recover a handgun believed to be involved in the shooting. This weapon was found in Walnut Creek near the North Valley Drive bridge, adding vital context to the ongoing inquiry.
Carmi now faces charges of first-degree murder in connection with Young’s death. Both incidents remain under thorough investigation by the Des Moines Police Department as they seek to piece together the circumstances surrounding these violent events, which marred the celebrations welcoming in the new year.
Local authorities continue to urge anyone with information about the shootings to come forward, as both cases underscore broader concerns about gun violence in urban settings. The police department is committed to uncovering the full details of the incidents in hopes of providing answers to the community and the families affected.