Who is Preston Walls? Iowa teen found guilty of second-degree double murder

On Thursday, an Iowa teenager was found guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter in connection with the shooting deaths of two students in January. The tragic incident occurred at an educational program designed for at-risk youths known as Starts Right Here.

Who is Preston Walls?

Preston Walls, aged 19 and hails from Des Moines.

The authorities revealed that on January 23, Mr. Walls fatally shot a 16-year-old and an 18-year-old who were both participants in the Starts Right Here program. At the time of the shooting, law enforcement identified Mr. Walls as a gang member, and they indicated that the victims were associated with a rival gang.

Initially, Mr. Walls had been charged with first-degree murder for both killings. However, during the trial, some jurors appeared to partially agree with Mr. Walls’s claim that he had shot the two teenagers out of fear for his own life.

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During the same episode, Mr. Walls also shot William Holmes, aged 49, the founder of Starts Right Here. In this case, the jury found Mr. Walls guilty of assault causing serious injury.

Had Mr. Walls been convicted of first-degree murder, he would have faced a mandatory life sentence in prison. Instead, he now faces a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison with the possibility of parole.

As of the latest reports, Mr. Walls’s lawyer, Darren Page, and the Polk County Attorney’s Office, which prosecuted the case, have not provided immediate comments or responses.

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Upon hearing the verdict on Thursday, Mr. Walls stood up, turned towards the gallery, and broke down in tears. The tragic incident on January 23 unfolded when Mr. Walls entered a common area at Starts Right Here, armed with a handgun equipped with an extended ammunition magazine. According to authorities, Mr. Holmes attempted to escort Mr. Walls out of the area before the shooting commenced. After firing at the two teenagers and Mr. Holmes, Mr. Walls fled the scene on foot. During his testimony in court, Mr. Walls claimed that he felt threatened by the two teenagers and believed they posed a danger to his life.