Dean Titus Deng, an 18-year-old Black/African American man, was found inside a vehicle in Des Moines with a gunshot wound on November 14, 2021. Police responded near the East Village and discovered two shooting victims; a 23-year-old man was expected to survive while Deng died and was pronounced dead. His death was counted as Des Moines’s 12th homicide of the year.

Investigators moved quickly and within days identified a suspect. A 17-year-old, Quarian Deonte Moore, was taken into custody on November 18, 2021, initially on unrelated warrants. Authorities subsequently linked him to Deng’s killing and charged him with first-degree murder; no other person was reported charged in connection with the shooting.

Anyone who knew Dean, saw activity in the East Village that morning, or has information about the events leading up to the shooting is asked to come forward.