Des Moines police responded to a shooting on Court Avenue just before midnight on Saturday, Oct. 24, after officers witnessed a fight near Fourth Street. According to KCCI, a 20-year-old man was shot in the leg and taken to the hospital; the injury was not life‑threatening.
Police identified a 17‑year‑old as the shooter who fired the round that struck the victim. A 15‑year‑old, also armed with a handgun, was taken into custody nearby. Two 23‑year‑old men, Aurtorrio Anderson and Dakota Peterson, surrendered and were arrested after fleeing the scene. Officers recovered three handguns, and during the pursuit an officer discharged his weapon at an armed suspect near Fourth and Locust streets; no one was injured by the officer’s gunfire.
The incident underscored a staffing shortfall in the city’s entertainment district. Sgt. Paul Paritzek told reporters that the department typically assigns six to eight additional officers to cover Court Avenue and special events, but only two officers were on patrol that night. The shortfall is part of a broader citywide budget shortfall, and an internal staffing study completed in August recommended adding 80 officers across the department, including at least 32 patrol officers.
Paritzek noted that the involvement of minors is not new, saying, “This isn’t the first time in the past few months that we’ve had to talk about minors with handguns down on Court Avenue late at night.” He added that the department has seen a growing number of minors with weapons or committing felonies since about 2020. While police can arrest and charge young people, Paritzek emphasized that “parents need to talk to their kids about these things” and called for increased supervision and guidance to prevent future incidents.
The city has not set a public hearing date for the staffing recommendations, but officials indicated that the study’s findings will be reviewed as part of upcoming budget discussions. Residents can expect further updates as Des Moines works to bolster its police presence in high‑traffic areas.
Sources: kcci.com
