Demetrius Thomas was 20 when he was found shot to death late on the night of September 11, 2015, in Des Moines’ Drake neighborhood. Thomas and a friend, 19-year-old Mohammad Nabeel Mirzai, were discovered a block apart near 22nd Street and Forest Avenue after officers on patrol located Mirzai and then found Thomas nearby. Both young men died from gunshot wounds.

The double homicide prompted an intensive investigation by the Des Moines Police Department and a candlelight vigil where family and friends mourned and called for justice. Within days police arrested 22-year-old D’Andre Nickolas Daniels and charged him with two counts of first-degree murder; a jury later convicted him on both counts and imposed life without parole.

If anyone knew Demetrius, where he spent time that night, or has information about what led to this violence, please come forward.