In the early hours of a Saturday in August 2016, the life of William "Bill" Dawson Sr., a 40-year-old Caucasian male from Des Moines, Iowa, was tragically cut short. The incident that led to his death unfolded around 1 a.m. outside of Johnny Mac's Bar and Grill, a local establishment in the city. Dawson, known to his friends and family as a hardworking man who laid asphalt for a living, was shot and sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
He was not alone when the violence erupted; his son, William Dawson Jr., and his son's girlfriend, Carley Toomey, were also shot and injured in the same event.
Following the shooting, all three victims were transported to a nearby hospital. While William Dawson Jr. and Carley Toomey were expected to survive their injuries, William Dawson Sr. succumbed to his wounds and passed away later that day. His death marked the eighth homicide in Des Moines for that year. Bill was remembered as a family man who cherished spending time with his wife, children, and grandchildren. He was an avid fan of the Denver Broncos and NASCAR, and he also dedicated his time to coaching youth baseball for the Eastside Sox.
The investigation into the shooting led by homicide detectives resulted in the arrest of a suspect. Devin Carter, 27 at the time of his conviction, was charged in connection with the shooting. In September 2017, a Polk County jury found Carter guilty of first-degree murder for the death of William Dawson Sr. His conviction also included two counts of attempted murder for the injuries sustained by William Dawson Jr. and Carley Toomey, as well as one count of intimidation with a dangerous weapon.
