An arrest has been made in the Des Moines shooting that left two students dead and one adult injured.

The Des Moines Register reports that two students were killed in the shooting at Starts Right Here, an educational mentorship program in downtown Des Moines shortly before 1 p.m. Monday. The program has won high-profile support from state and city leaders. The Register reports that police officials say that Starts Right Here founder and CEO Will Holmes, who is also known as Will Keeps, was also shot and seriously injured. He remains in a local hospital. Police say that the two students who were shot were ages 16 and 18. They were found in very critical condition and officers performed CPR at the scene. They both died at a Des Moines hospital.

The Register reports that late Monday, police arrested 18-year-old Preston Walls of Des Moines. He has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and gang participation.


Des Moines police said in a press release that Walls was allegedly armed with a 9mm handgun with an extended ammunition magazine when he entered Starts Right Here. The Register reports that Holmes attempted to escort Walls out of the building when Walls allegedly started shooting at the teens. Police say that Walls and both of the victims were known gang members, and belonged to opposing gangs. Officials say that the evidence points to an ongoing gang dispute as being the cause of the shooting. Two other teenagers are also in police custody.

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