In the early hours of September 11, 2015, the lives of two young men were cut short in a tragic act of violence in Des Moines, Iowa. One of the victims was 19-year-old Mohammad Nabeel Mirzai, a young man of Afghan descent. He and 20-year-old Demetrius Thomas were discovered deceased, their bodies found just a block apart in the vicinity of 22nd Street and Forest Avenue.
The incident was quickly determined to be a double homicide, shaking the community and leaving friends and family searching for answers. The cause of their deaths was attributed to gun violence.
Known to his loved ones as Nabeel, he had his whole life ahead of him. He had recently celebrated a significant milestone, graduating from Hoover High School just a few months prior in May. With aspirations for the future, he was looking forward to beginning his college education at Des Moines Area Community College in the upcoming semester. The youngest of eight siblings, Nabeel was part of a family that had sought refuge in the United States, immigrating from Afghanistan shortly after the September 11th attacks. Those who knew him remembered a sweet and happy young man, eager to connect with others.
In the days following the double homicide, the Des Moines Police Department launched an investigation into the killings. Their efforts led them to believe that the deaths of Mirzai and Thomas were the result of a drug deal that had taken a fatal turn. The investigation culminated in the arrests of four individuals in connection with the case. One of the suspects, an 18-year-old named Luis Magallon, turned himself in to authorities. He, along with 20-year-old Shamair Gainey and 18-year-old Robert Baez-Alvarez, faced charges of first-degree robbery. The arrests brought a measure of progress in the case, though the full story of that tragic day continues to be a painful memory for those who knew and loved Mohammad Nabeel Mirzai.
