Des Moines police looking for suspect that fired gunshots into the downtown entertainment district
Des Moines police are working to identify the suspect that fired gunshots into a crowd of people early Sunday morning.
Police said the suspect fired into the downtown entertainment district from outside the gated area.
In order to get inside the entertainment district, individuals are checked by security and must show their ID.
Police say the suspect entered the entertainment district the night of the shooting, but left after getting into a fight outside one of the bars on Court Avenue.
He returned to the perimeter of the entertainment district five minutes later and fired shots into the crowd.
After missing his intended target, two bystanders were struck.
"It should be frustrating to the community that you have a criminal spraying bullets and hitting people who are absolutely totally un-involved. That's a problem that needs our aggressive action," said Des Moines Police Sargent, Paul Parizek.
The two victims were taken to the hospital with minor injuries and have since been released.
Deshawn Fankhauser has lived downtown for most of his life.
He was in the area around the time of the shooting and tells KCCI he's looking to move out of downtown.
"I do want to move just because of what's happening down here. I'm about to have a kid here soon so I have to move and start a new life somewhere," Fankhauser said.
Jim Berg lives across the street from where the shots were fired and said it's unsettling that shootings like this continue in his area after the entertainment district was set up.
"You like to see the crowd. You like to see everyone going back downtown, especially after COVID. I just hope they can get their hands around what's causing the problem," Berg said.
Sargent Parizek says this is why going after gun crimes is a top priority for the Des Moines Police Department.
"We need the community's support when we aggressively go after these gun crimes. A person who is lawfully possessing a firearm and is a responsible gun owner isn't our concern here. It's the criminals who get the guns and come down to a place like the entertainment zone and start shooting," Parizek said.
Police are confident the suspect did not have a gun on him while inside the entertainment district.