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(Polk County, IA) -- One of the shooters in a fatal drive-by shooting at Des Moines East High School has been sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole. Alex Santiago Perdomo pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. He's has been at the State Training School in Eldora, and turns 18 November 6th. Police say 15-year-old Jose Lopez was killed, and Kemery Ortega and Jessica Lopez Torrez were critically injured March 7th, 2022 in the shooting. The three were outside the school that day, when multiple gunshots were fired toward them from three vehicles.
Police alleged Perdomo was in the back of a Ford F-150 truck and fired at pedestrians. Des Moines Police Detective Ryan Garrett testified that police found eight shell casings fired from the defendant’s Glock 9mm handgun. The defendant’s older brother, Romeo Perdomo, was also in the back of the pickup truck.
Mr. Perdomo was 15 at the time of the shooting, so he is eligible for parole despite the life sentence. A judge previously had waived him to youthful offender status, instead of adult court. As a result, the defendant could have faced probation.
"The crime had “an incredible impact on our community as a whole,” Polk County District Judge Jeffrey Ferrell said. “It’s really important to show the community that there are consequences for actions.”
In court, Mr. Perdomo turned to the mother of Jose Lopez, Deborha Perez, and told her that he has remembered her words and thought about the impact that his actions had on her.
“I feel guilt, because you’re right, I can’t imagine what you are going through,” he told her.
In her victim impact statement, Mrs. Perez addressed Mr. Perdomo, as well. “I cannot forgive and forget and be proud of what you are doing,” she said. “You had a lot of time to change your mind. You shot eight times. The first shot, you could have changed your mind. You decided to keep going.”
The defendant must also pay $150,000 restitution to the estate of Jose Lopez.
Of the 10 teens charged in the shooting, three pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, and four pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.
- Nyang Mai Chamdual, 17, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. He is scheduled to be sentenced June 18, 2025, after he turns 18.
- Romeo Perdomo, 19, 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., 19, 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, 20, 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, 20, 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, 19, 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, 19, pleaded guilty to two charges of intimidation with a dangerous weapon and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
- Kevin Isidro Martinez, 18, pleaded guilty to two counts of intimidation with a dangerous weapon and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
- Gumaro Marquez-Jacobo, 20, 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.