DES MOINES, Iowa — Des Moines police have identified the victims of a recent deadly shooting in downtown Des Moines.
Officers stationed at the Court Avenue Entertainment District responded to the sound of gunfire near Court and Water just after 2 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15, according to a press release.
When they arrived, police found three men with gunshot injuries. One of the men, 29-year-old Dennis Morris Hawkins Jr., was pronounced dead at the scene.
The two other victims were transported to local hospitals in critical condition. One of those men, 34-year-old Oscar Matthew Marquez Jr., later died of his injuries. The two deaths marked the city's ninth and 11th homicides of 2024.
The third victim, a 29-year-old man, was eventually released from the hospital.
Based on witness statements and evidence at the scene, police believe there was a verbal argument between the three men, which led to gunfire. Police say there is no indication of another person being involved.
The incident remains under investigation.
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