Photo: deepblue4you / iStock / Getty Images
(Des Moines, IA) — The final defendant in the fatal 2022 drive-by shooting at Des Moines East High School has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.
Nyang Mai Chamdual pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the shooting that killed 15-year-old Jose Lopez and injured Kemery Ortega and Jessica Lopez Torrez. On March 7, 2022, three vehicles drove past and fired shots at the teens as they stood outside East High School. According to the Polk County Attorney’s Office, Chamdual fired shots from the back of a truck using a revolver.
Chamdual was 14 years old at the time of the shooting and has been held at the Boys State Training School in Eldora. Because of his age at the time of the crime, he is eligible for parole despite receiving a life sentence.
In addition to his life sentence, Chamdual must also pay $150,000 in restitution to the estate of Jose Lopez.
He is one of 10 individuals who were charged in connection with the shooting.
Sentencing information for others involved provided by The Polk County Attorneys Office:
- 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.