In the early morning hours of May 30, 2020, the life of 19-year-old Robert Lee Trey Freeman, a Caucasian male from Des Moines, Iowa, was tragically cut short. Just before 8:30 a.m., Des Moines police responded to a report of gunfire in the 1400 block of Dean Avenue. Upon arrival, officers discovered Freeman lying on the ground with a gunshot injury.
Emergency responders immediately began life-saving measures, including CPR, before rushing him to MercyOne Medical Center. Despite their efforts, Robert Freeman succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead shortly after 9:00 a.m. His death was investigated as the city's 11th homicide of 2020.
Following an investigation, which included the discovery of video and firearm-related evidence, Des Moines Police Department detectives identified a suspect. On June 6, 2020, authorities arrested 21-year-old Dayquawne Dashawn Gates of Des Moines. Gates was charged with first-degree murder and felon in possession of a firearm in connection with Freeman's death. He was subsequently booked into the Polk County Jail and held without bond. Robert Lee Trey Freeman is remembered by his children, parents, and a large extended family.
