On a summer evening in Des Moines, Iowa, the life of 31-year-old Paye Blawou, a Black / African American male known to many as "Jeff," was tragically cut short. On June 23, 2020, in the Prospect Park area, Blawou was shot. Emergency services were called to the scene just before 8:00 p.m., where they found him suffering from a gunshot wound. Medics from the Des Moines Fire Department transported him to MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center, but he succumbed to his injuries and passed away later
that evening. His death marked the 13th homicide in the city for that year.
The investigation into the shooting was swift. Detectives worked through the night, interviewing witnesses and examining evidence. Their efforts quickly led to a suspect, and on the very same day as the incident, an arrest was made. Des Moines police took 20-year-old Lee Targblor into custody. He was initially charged with attempted murder, and the charge was updated following Blawou's death. Targblor was booked into the Polk County Jail.
Paye Blawou was born in Liberia, West Africa, on June 6, 1989. His family later relocated to the United States, first settling in Detroit, Michigan, before moving to Des Moines, where he spent most of his adolescent years. He graduated from Valley High School and pursued further education at Des Moines Area Community College, Vatterot College, and UTI College, studying business and automobile mechanics. He worked as a self-employed mechanic with a dream of one day opening his own shop. Described as a warm, caring, and fun-loving person, Blawou enjoyed fishing, riding bikes, cooking, and listening to his favorite artist, Tupac. He was a family man, leaving behind his fiancée, several children, and a large extended family. The community mourned his loss, with funeral services held on July 11, 2020.
