DES MOINES, Iowa — One of the shooters in the deadly drive-by shooting at East High School was sentenced to life in prison on Monday.

Alex Santiago Perdomo, who was 15 at the time of the shooting, was sitting in the back, driver’s side seat of a Ford F-150 when he fired a gun into a crowd of people outside of East High School in March 2022. The shooting resulted in the death of 15-year-old Jose Lopez, and critically injured Kemery Ortega and Jessica Lopez Torres.

In 2023 Perdomo pled guilty to first-degree murder and since then has been in custody at the State Training School in Eldora.

According to the Polk County Attorney’s Office, during a sentencing hearing on Monday the chaplain of the State Training School and Perdomo’s juvenile court officer testified that Perdomo had significantly progressed during his time in custody, including graduating high school and serving on the student council and as a peer role model.

The victims also provided victim impact statements during the hearing. Lopez’s mother, Deborha Perez, addressed Perdomo directly during her statement.

“I cannot forgive and forget and be proud of what you are doing,” Perez said. “You had a lot of time to change your mind. You shot eight times. The first shot, you could have changed your mind. You decided to keep going.”

Perdomo was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. He is eligible for parole because he was a minor at the time of the shooting. Perdomo could have faced probation due to a judge previously waiving him to youthful offender status. He was also ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution to the estate of Jose Lopez.

Below is a summary of those charged and their dispostitions:

• Nyang Mai Chamdual, 17, pled guilty to first-degree murder. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 18, 2025 after he turns 18.
• Romeo Perdomo, 19, pled guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.
• Octavio Lopez Sanchez Jr., 19, pled guilty to second-degree murder and two counts of willful injury. He was sentenced to 70 years in prison.
• Daniel Hernandez, 20, pled guilty to one count of second-degree murder and two counts of willful injury causing serious injury. He was sentenced to 60 years in prison.
• Henry David Valladares Amaya, 20, pled guilty to one count of second-degree murder and two counts of willful injury causing serious injury. He was sentenced to 50 years in prison.
• Manuel De Jesus Buezo, 19, pled guilty to one count of second-degree murder and two counts of willful injury causing serious injury. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
• Braulio Damien Hernandez-Salas, 19, pled guilty to two counts of intimidation with a dangerous weapon. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
• Kevin Isidro Martinez, 18, pled guilty to two counts of intimidation with a dangerous weapon. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
• Gumaro Marquez-Jacobo, 20, pled guilty to accessory after the fact, person ineligible to carry a dangerous weapon, and providing a pistol or revolver to a person under 21. He was given a four-year suspended sentence.

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