Adriel Ward was 33 when he was shot while driving in Des Moines on the evening of February 11, 2017; his vehicle then crashed in the 1700 block of Delaware Avenue and his death was classified as a homicide. Known as AD, he was a husband and father, married in October 2015, and described as charismatic with an infectious laugh. He leaves behind a daughter born in 2002 who shared his love of softball.

Originally from Pontiac, Michigan, Ward moved to Des Moines with his brother at 15, graduated from East High School in 2001, trained in auto body painting at Des Moines Area Community College, and worked as a sheet metal worker pursuing his journeyman’s license.

Investigators said the probe was hampered by a lack of witnesses and believed the shooter likely did not know Ward personally. As of May 2017 no arrests or public suspect identifications had been announced and the case remained unsolved. If anyone has information about what happened that night on Delaware Avenue, please come forward.