In the cold of a January night in Des Moines, Iowa, the life of Cory Lee Channon, a 39-year-old Caucasian male, was brought to a sudden and violent end. On January 9, 2018, within the confines of an apartment at 1332 21st Street, just a few blocks from Drake University, Channon was shot in the chest. The incident, which occurred around 11:30 p.m., marked the city's first homicide of the new year.
When authorities arrived at the scene, they found Channon deceased, the stillness of the apartment belying the tragic events that had just unfolded.
The immediate aftermath of the shooting saw a swift response from law enforcement. A potential suspect, who had called the police shortly after the incident, was taken in for questioning. As the investigation progressed, the pieces of what happened began to come together, leading to the apprehension of two individuals. The Des Moines Police Department arrested 45-year-old William Burton the Third and 36-year-old Crystal Purdy in connection with the fatal shooting.
The motive behind the shooting was not immediately made public by the authorities as they continued their investigation into the circumstances surrounding Channon's death. Both Burton and Purdy were subsequently charged with first-degree murder, facing the full weight of the legal system for their alleged roles in the death of Cory Lee Channon. His death sent a somber note through the city, a stark reminder of the fragility of life as a new year began.
