Legal Consequences for Perpetrator of Des Moines School Tragedy

In a verdict delivered on Thursday, a judge sentenced Preston Walls to 65 years in prison for the tragic incident at a Des Moines alternative school. The incident resulted in the loss of two students' lives and left the program's founder injured. Walls received the sentence after being found guilty of second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, and assault causing serious injury. The convict, Preston Walls, admitted to the killings, stating that he acted out of fear for his life due to previous encounters with the victims, Rashad Carr, 16, and Gionni Dameron, 18. The tragic event occurred on Jan. 23, 2023, at the Starts Right Here alternative school in downtown Des Moines. Despite his conviction, another individual charged in connection to the incident, Bravon Tukes, was acquitted by the jury. Walls will be required to serve a minimum of 40 years before being considered for release and to pay $150,000 in restitution to the victims' families. Additionally, the school's founder, Will Keeps, who survived the attack, promptly resumed the program's operations in collaboration with Des Moines public schools.