In the spring of 2018, the life of 20-year-old Josue D. Alonzo Jr. was tragically cut short on a Friday night in Des Moines, Iowa. A recent graduate of East High School and a proud husband and father, Alonzo was of Mexican heritage and known for his outgoing nature and the love he had for his family. He worked hard as a delivery driver to provide for his wife, Yeimi, whom he had married just a month prior, and their young daughter, Esmeralda Layla.
His friends and family affectionately called him Josuélito, Lito, or Josh, and remembered him as the heart of his family, someone whose smile could brighten anyone's day.
On the evening of April 27, 2018, at approximately 10:20 p.m., police responded to reports of gunfire on the city's east side. They arrived at the intersection of East 30th Street and Garfield Avenue to find Alonzo lying in the street with gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. According to a social media post, nearby residents stayed with the young man until medics arrived. His death marked the third homicide in Des Moines that year.
In the days following the shooting, the Des Moines Police Department began an investigation and appealed to the public for information. Detectives were searching for a suspect vehicle described by witnesses as a late-model, four-door, red compact car. The car reportedly had a broken or missing rear window on the driver's side and was said to have black wheels or was missing its hubcaps.
Despite the description of the vehicle and continued investigation, no arrests have ever been announced in the case. The shooting of Josue Alonzo remains unsolved, leaving a void in the lives of his wife, daughter, and extended family. Authorities have continued to encourage anyone with knowledge about the incident to come forward.
