On a late summer evening in Des Moines, Iowa, the life of Frederick M. McCuller II, a 40-year-old Black / African American male, was tragically cut short. On August 30, 2021, McCuller was killed in a shooting that also left two other men, aged 32 and 27, with non-life-threatening injuries. The incident was described by authorities as a "targeted ambush."
Known affectionately as "Fred the Barber," McCuller was remembered as a humble, cool, and funny man, as well as a wonderful father and friend.
In the days following the shooting, investigators made a swift arrest. A 17-year-old, Danil James Deng, was taken into custody in connection with the triple shooting. At the time of his arrest, police reported finding a handgun in his possession that they believed was the weapon used in the crime. Deng was subsequently charged as an adult with one count of first-degree murder for the death of McCuller, two counts of attempted murder for the injuries sustained by the other two victims, and a weapons count. A second arrest was made later in connection with the deadly shooting, though further details on this individual were not as widely reported. The community was left to mourn the loss of a beloved barber and friend, while the legal process against the accused began to unfold.
