30-05-2025
Final defendant sentenced in 2022 fatal shooting outside East High
DES MOINES, Iowa — A painful chapter in Des Moines' history is coming to a close with the sentencing of the final defendant in a deadly drive-by shooting outside East High School in 2022.
The Polk County Attorney's Office said Nyang Mai Chamdual was sentenced to life in prison on Friday. Because of his age at the time of the shooting, 14, he will have the possibility of parole. He previously pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and has been held at the Boys State Training School in Eldora. He turns 18 next month.
Previous stories: Deadly East High School shooting
Chamdual was one of 10 teens charged in the March 7, 2022 shooting that killed 15-year-old Jose Lopez and injured Kemery Ortega and Jessica Lopez Torres. The three were outside of East High School when shots were fired from three passing vehicles.
The Polk County Attorney's Office says Chamdual fired a .38 revolver from the back seat of a Ford F-150 truck in the incident.
During sentencing, Chamdual's attorney Van Plumb argued for leniency for his client and said he had made 'tremendous leaps and bounds toward his rehabilitation,' and that 'He's a changed man.' Chamdual received his high school diploma while incarcerated.
In the end, Chief Judge Michael Huppert sentenced Chamdual to life in prison with the possibility of parole. He applauded Chamdual's progress but said it did not balance the scales of his actions.
Huppert did not set a mandatory minimum sentence, leaving the decision on when Chamdual is released up to the Board of Parole.
Chamdual must also pay restitution of $150,000 to Jose Lopez's estate.
The Polk County Attorney's Office provided a summary of the other defendants and their dispositions, along with their current age:
Alex Santiago Perdomo, 18, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, because he was a juvenile at the time of the crime.
Romeo Perdomo, 20, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, because he was a juvenile at the time of the crime.
Octavio Lopez Sanchez Jr., 20, was sentenced to 70 years in prison in January 2024. He had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and two counts of willful injury.
Daniel Hernandez, 21, was sentenced to 60 years in prison. He had pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder and two counts of willful injury causing a serious injury. He was a juvenile at the time of the shooting.
Henry David Valladares Amaya, 21, was sentenced to 50 years in prison. He had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and two counts of willful injury causing serious injury. He was a juvenile at the time of the shooting.
Manuel De Jesus Buezo, 20, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and two counts of willful injury causing serious injury. He was a juvenile at the time of the shooting.
Braulio Damien Hernandez-Salas, 20, pleaded guilty to two charges of intimidation with a dangerous weapon and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Kevin Isidro Martinez, 19, pleaded guilty to two counts of intimidation with a dangerous weapon and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Gumaro Marquez-Jacobo, 21, was sentenced to a four-year suspended sentence. He had pleaded guilty to one count of accessory after the fact, one count of person ineligible to carry a dangerous weapon, and one count of providing a pistol or revolver to a person under 21.
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