DES MOINES, Iowa — A Des Moines man will spend 45 years behind bars for multiple crimes, including the shooting death of Dok Nyok Akol Dok in October 2022, the Polk County Attorney's Office announced on Thursday.
Capone Blake tried to rob 22-year-old Dok during a drug transaction near the Grubb YMCA in Des Moines, investigators said. When Dok attempted to drive away, Blake shot at him. Dok later died from the gunshot wound.
Blake, who was 20 years old at the time of the shooting, originally pleaded guilty to Robbery in the First Degree and Voluntary Manslaughter in Dok's death. He also pleaded guilty to Robbery in the Second Degree for a separate incident in Urbandale.
He filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea in Dok's case, but withdrew it on Thursday.
Judge Charles Sinnard sentenced Blake to consecutive prison sentences totaling 45 years. Blake must serve at least 22-and-a-half years in prison and pay a $150,000 civil penalty to Dok's family.
“The killing of an innocent person will haunt you. You are such a young person, as Dok was. This will affect your mom, dad, and family,” Nyok Dok, the victim's father, said in the release. “I forgive you.”
Christopher J. Wessels Jr. was also arrested and charged with First-Degree Murder in connection to the shooting. In January, he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of Robbery in the Second Degree and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.