In the early morning hours of June 17, 2017, a burst of gunfire shattered the peace on the east side of Des Moines, Iowa, leaving two men dead. One of the victims was Jason Smith, a 30-year-old Black male. The incident, which also claimed the life of 26-year-old Darnell Lee, unfolded around 3 a.m. in the 1800 block of Easton Boulevard, the site of a party that had taken a violent turn.
When police officers arrived at the scene, they were met with a chaotic and hostile crowd.
Their initial efforts to investigate were hampered by witnesses who were largely uncooperative. Inside the turmoil, they discovered two men suffering from gunshot wounds. Darnell Lee was pronounced dead at the scene, while Jason Smith was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The double homicide marked the 17th and 18th killings in Des Moines that year, a significant increase from the 13 homicides recorded in all of 2016. In the immediate aftermath, law enforcement officials reported that no arrests had been made and publicly appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
Despite the initial investigation and pleas for public assistance, the case grew cold. Years have passed since the fatal shooting, and there have been no subsequent announcements of any arrests or the identification of any suspects in the murders of Jason Smith and Darnell Lee. The circumstances surrounding their deaths, and who was responsible, officially remain unresolved. The lack of cooperation from potential witnesses at the scene proved to be a significant obstacle, leaving the case unsolved and the families of the victims without answers.
