Des Moines man sentenced to 60 years in prison for fatal Drake neighborhood shooting

DES MOINES, Iowa — A Des Moines man received a 60-year prison sentence on Friday for fatally shooting a man outside of a Drake neighborhood bar two years ago.

In August 2022 the Des Moines Police Department responded to a 911 call reporting a shooting in the 2400 block of University Avenue, outside of a Drake neighborhood bar. When first responders arrived at the scene they found 39-year-old Tyrell Lavell Grimes with multiple gunshot wounds. Grimes died from his injuries at a nearby hospital.

Police identified the shooter as Andrew Jerome Harris, 45. Witnesses told officers that Harris and Grimes had gotten into a heated argument. Harris eventually walked away from Grimes and drove away, but later returned and started arguing with Grimes again. During the second argument Harris pulled out a handgun and shot Grimes twice, court documents state.

In November 2023 a Polk County Jury convicted Harris of first-degree murder for the death of Grimes. However, District Judge Lawrence McLellan ordered in February of this year that Harris get a new trial due to the exclusion of a statement that Harris claimed Grimes had said to him, according to the Polk County Attorney’s Office. In the second trial Harris was found guilty of second-degree murder, going armed with intent, and being a felon in possession of a handgun.

On Friday Harris was sentenced to 60 years in prison. He must serve 35 years before being eligible for parole.

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