DES MOINES, Iowa — The Des Moines Police Department has identified the man who died in a shooting early Sunday.
Police arrested 25-year-old Kyonta Lavon Taylor of Des Moines Monday in connection to the death of 24-year-old Rayjon Jay.
Taylor is charged with:
- Voluntary Manslaughter (Class C felony)
- Felon In Possession Of A Firearm (Class D felony)
The arrest came just one day after authorities responded to a crash with injury just before 5:30 a.m. Sunday at 2nd Avenue and University Avenue.
When they arrived, officers found a car crashed into a retaining wall at the southwest corner of the intersection. The driver, later identified as Jay, had a gunshot injury.
Jay was transported to a local hospital, where he later died.
Police believe the shooting occurred in a convenience store parking lot on 2nd Avenue. Police said an argument broke out in the parking lot, eventually escalating to a physical fight.
Evidence indicates Taylor was knocked to the ground when he pulled a handgun out and shot Jay, DMPD added.
Jay attempted to drive from the scene before crashing into the retaining wall.
Police said the shooting was an isolated incident and that Jay and Taylor likely knew each other prior to the shooting. They do not think the incident is connected to an earlier Sunday shooting.
Jay's death marks the city's 10th homicide of the year. The other Sunday shooting left two men dead, marking the 9th and 11th homicides of the year.
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Editor's Note: The below video originally aired on Sunday, Sept. 15