On Friday afternoon, June 28, 2019, emergency services responded to the 1700 block of 22nd Street in Des Moines after reports of a shooting. Officers found 41-year-old Earl Marcello Caldwell suffering from a gunshot wound; he was taken to a local hospital and died of his injuries. The incident was reported as the city’s fifth homicide that year.

About 10 minutes earlier, at roughly 2:25 p.m., 39-year-old Littleton William Clark arrived at a different hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. Investigators determined the two shootings were connected. A search warrant executed at the scene turned up two assault-style rifles, a handgun, cocaine, marijuana and led to the arrest of 62-year-old Larry Perry on weapons, drug and tax stamp charges.

Detectives later charged 20-year-old Michael Reco Lyke, Jr. with murder, attempted murder, intimidation with a dangerous weapon and assault. His mother, 40-year-old Tameeca Marie Lyke, was arrested on a charge of preventing apprehension/obstructing prosecution for allegedly hiding the vehicle used in the killing and giving false statements. Michael Lyke, Jr. accepted a plea deal and is scheduled to be sentenced on reduced charges; under the agreement he faces up to 30 years and potential restitution to Caldwell’s family.

If anyone has information about Earl Caldwell, the shootings, or the vehicle connected to the case, please come forward.