A quiet Des Moines neighborhood was shattered by violence on the evening of Valentine's Day, February 14, 2025, leaving a young Hispanic man dead. Armando Cruz Lorenzo, a 25-year-old male, was fatally shot at a residence on Maury Street. The Des Moines Police Department responded to reports of gunfire shortly after 5 p.m. and discovered Lorenzo suffering from gunshot wounds.
Despite the efforts of emergency responders, he succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
The investigation into the shooting was immediately classified as a homicide. For days, the community was left with few answers as detectives worked to piece together the events that led to the tragic loss of life. A resident of the area reported hearing several pops, initially unsure if it was gunfire due to an echo. The confirmation of a fatal shooting left neighbors unsettled. The 800 block of Maury Street was temporarily closed as the investigation began.
In the weeks that followed, the Des Moines Police Department identified a person of interest they believed had valuable information regarding the case. They announced they were searching for 18-year-old Brayan Lopez, who was also wanted on an unrelated felony warrant for a robbery that occurred in December 2024. Authorities cautioned the public that Lopez was considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached.
On April 25, 2025, Brayan Lopez was taken into custody. His arrest came after a 911 caller reported a stolen pickup truck. Officers located the vehicle, and after an 11-minute high-speed chase, the truck crashed. Lopez, the driver, was arrested at the scene. While he was apprehended for his outstanding robbery warrant and new charges related to the vehicle theft and pursuit, authorities confirmed he was the person of interest they had been seeking in connection with the death of Armando Cruz Lorenzo. However, he has not been charged in the homicide case, and the investigation into Lorenzo's death remains ongoing.
