DES MOINES, Iowa — A Des Moines man was convicted of willful injury in a 2024 road-rage shooting by a jury on Thursday.

36-year-old Brandon Butters was found guilty of willful injury for shooting a motorcyclist during a road-rage incident in 2024 by a Polk County jury.

Court records state that on November 1, 2024, the victim had pulled his motorcycle in front of Butters vehicle while stopped at an intersection. The victim claimed Butters had struck his motorcycle and, after the victim approached the driver window, an argument ensued.

Authorities say the argument escalated when the victim and Butters “exchanged blows” before Butters fired a shot from his handgun. The bullet passed through the victims arm. Butters left the scene before the police arrived, evidence states. 

During the trial, Butters argued that the victim was the primary aggressor and that he had acted with justification.

Butters was originally charged with attempted murder, but was found guilty of a lesser charge of Assault with Intent to Cause Serious Injury by the jury. The jury also found Butters guilty of Willful Injury Causing Serious Injury, Assault While Participating in a Felony Causing Serious Injury, and Felon In Possession of Firearm.

Convicted as a habitual offender, each of the felony charges carries a 15-year sentence for Butters. Additionally, the jury found that Butters used a dangerous weapon to commit Class C felonies, which carries a minimum of five years in prison on each count.

Butters is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date.