In the early summer evening of June 6, 2022, the life of 21-year-old Elizabeth Arzola was tragically cut short in Des Moines, Iowa. A resident of the city, Elizabeth, a Hispanic female, was fatally shot near the downtown area in what authorities have described as a targeted attack. The incident occurred at approximately 9:30 p.m. in the 700 block of Robert D. Ray Drive, a normally vibrant area near the Des Moines River.
First responders arrived at the scene to find Elizabeth with a gunshot injury; she was pronounced deceased at the location.
The investigation into her death quickly pointed to a deliberate act rather than a random event. Witnesses reported hearing sounds akin to fireworks, which were later determined to be gunshots. Des Moines police recovered a handgun at the scene, furthering their investigation into the city's ninth homicide of the year. The nature of the attack suggested that Elizabeth was specifically targeted, leaving the community to grapple with the senseless violence that took a young life.
Following weeks of investigation, authorities made a significant breakthrough in the case. On July 1, 2022, the Des Moines Police Department announced the arrests of two individuals in connection with Elizabeth's murder. Rashawn Damar Evans, 21, of Altoona, and Lyzaiah Nakyle Treadwell, 21, of Des Moines, were taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder. The arrests brought a measure of progress in the quest for justice for Elizabeth and her grieving family, though the motive behind the targeted killing was not immediately made public.
