Elijah Edwardlee Brown-Townsend was 16 when he died in Des Moines in the early morning hours of March 6, 2021. The Black/African American junior at North High School was fatally wounded in a shooting around 4:40 a.m.; authorities later described the incident as an accidental shooting and counted it as the city’s second homicide that year.

Elijah was remembered as outgoing and magnetic, with a big smile, an infectious laugh, and interests that included football and music. Investigators identified an 18-year-old Des Moines resident as the person involved; that individual was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter. Elijah’s family and community were left grieving his sudden loss.

If anyone knew Elijah or has information about what happened that morning, please come forward to share what you know.