In the summer of 2017, a young Hispanic man's life was cut short in a burst of violence on a Friday afternoon in Des Moines, Iowa. On July 28th, 23-year-old Jeffrey Sifrido Mercado was in the 1800 block of Oakland Avenue when a drive-by shooting occurred at approximately 3:15 p.m. A gunshot wound to his chest proved fatal, and he died from his injuries.
The perpetrators fled the scene immediately following the incident, leaving a community in shock and a family to grieve.
The Des Moines Police Department swiftly launched an investigation into the homicide. Their efforts quickly led to the identification of two suspects. Within a short period, authorities had both individuals in custody, bringing a sense of resolution to the initial phase of the investigation. The two people arrested in connection with the fatal shooting were 19-year-old Miguel Angel Lorenzo-Baltazar and 22-year-old Anthony Garcia, both residents of Des Moines.
Following their apprehension, both Lorenzo-Baltazar and Garcia were formally charged with murder in the first degree for their alleged roles in the death of Jeffrey Mercado. Law enforcement officials indicated at the time of the arrests that additional charges could be forthcoming as the investigation continued to unfold. The arrests marked a significant development in the case, bringing the suspected assailants to face the justice system for the violent end of a young man's life.
