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Person of interest in Des Moines man's death now charged with first-degree murder

Courtney Smith, 38, is charged with killing 51-year-old Scott Crane of Des Moines.

DES MOINES, Iowa — A suspect has been charged with murder in the August killing of a Des Moines man.

Polk County deputies arrived at a home on the northeast side of Des Moines the morning of Saturday, Aug. 6 to find 51-year-old Scott Crane of Des Moines dead from "what appeared to be a gunshot wound," the sheriff's office said. 911 calls reported gunshots in the area, a release says.

Credit: Polk County Sheriff's Office
The Polk County Sheriff's Office says 51-year-old Scott Crane was found dead inside a northeast Des Moines home the morning of Saturday, Aug. 6.

The sheriff's office previously identified 38-year-old Courtney Shane Smith as a person of interest in this investigation. 

Smith turned himself in on a material witness warrant Monday afternoon, the sheriff's office said. On Tuesday, law enforcement said he is charged with Murder in the First Degree. 

His initial appearance is scheduled for Wednesday.

Credit: Polk County Jail

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