In the early hours of Labor Day morning, September 5, 2016, a night of celebration turned to tragedy in the parking lot of the 7 Flags Event Center in Clive, Iowa. Johnny Lee Ollie Jackson, a 29-year-old Black / African American man from Des Moines, was killed in a burst of gunfire that erupted as an "All Black Party" was coming to a close. Another man, 44-year-old Kevin Lee Hall, also of Des Moines, was also fatally shot.
The event, a formal affair where guests were encouraged to dress
in black, had drawn a crowd of around 250 people. Investigators believe that a fight broke out inside the venue and spilled out into the parking lot, where approximately 100 people were still gathered around 2 a.m. It was in the midst of this chaotic scene that the fatal shots were fired. In addition to Jackson and Hall, two other individuals were struck by bullets but survived their injuries.
The Clive Police Department's investigation into the double homicide was met with significant challenges from the outset. Detectives reported a pervasive lack of cooperation from the numerous witnesses who were present at the scene. This reluctance to come forward hampered their efforts to piece together the precise sequence of events that led to the deaths of Jackson and Hall.
Despite the difficulties, investigators were able to develop a working theory of the incident. They believe that Johnny Lee Ollie Jackson and Kevin Lee Hall were armed and shot each other during the altercation in the parking lot. Evidence suggested that a total of three firearms were discharged during the incident. However, only one weapon, belonging to Jackson, was recovered at the scene. Authorities believe that two other handguns were removed from the crime scene before police could secure the area. While the investigation pointed to the two deceased men as the primary shooters, police did not rule out the possibility of charges being filed against other individuals for their roles in the fight or for concealing evidence. The case remains a stark reminder of a festive night that ended in unresolved violence.
