Final defendant in East High School drive-by shooting pleads guilty
The 10th and final defendant in the March 7, 2022, shooting outside Des Moines' East High School that left one dead and two seriously injured has pleaded guilty.
Octavio Lopez Sanchez Jr., 18, entered the plea Thursday to charges of second-degree murder and two counts of willful injury, according to a news release from the Polk County Attorney's Office. He faces up to 70 years in prison and will be sentenced Nov. 7.
Lopez Sanchez was 17 at the time of the shooting, which killed Jose David Lopez, 15, and critically injured Kemery Ortega and Jessica Lopez Torres. The teens were standing outside of the school when they were shot at by people in three cars, according to the release.
More: Ninth teen pleads guilty in East High shooting that killed one person, injured two others
A criminal complaint shows police reviewed surveillance video of a Mercedes, a Ford Fusion and a Ford F-150 leaving an address on 23rd Street shortly before the shooting and returning soon after. The suspects were caught on camera entering and leaving the cars.
Investigators found 27 spent shell casings at the scene and another 15 in the three vehicles. Police believe the defendants used six firearms in the shooting.
All 10 defendants in the case have pleaded guilty — three to first-degree murder and four to second-degree murder.
Where the other cases stand
Nyang Mai Chamdual, 16, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in late July. Because he was given youthful offender status, his sentencing is scheduled for June 18, 2025, after he turns 18.
A judge sentenced 17-year-old Kevin Martinez to 20 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to two felony charges of intimidation with a dangerous weapon and admitted he was one of the car's drivers during the shooting.
Braulio Hernandez-Salas, 18, pleaded guilty in January to two counts of intimidation with a dangerous weapon, a class C felony. A judge sentenced Hernandez-Salas to up to 20 years in prison. His sentencing came the day after Romeo Perdomo, 18, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and received a life sentence with the possibility of parole.
Daniel Hernandez, 19, pleaded guilty in December to one count of second-degree murder and two counts of willful injury causing serious injury. He faces 50 to 70 years in prison.
Henry Valladares Amaya, 19, pleaded guilty in October to second-degree murder and two counts of willful injury causing a serious injury. He faces a total of up to 70 years in prison.
Manuel Buezo, 18, pleaded guilty in May 2022 to second-degree murder and two counts of willful injury causing serious injury. He faces up to 50 years in prison, though his plea agreement recommends all but 20 years should be suspended.
Gumaro Marquez-Jacobo,18, pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact, providing a pistol to a person under 21, and being a person ineligible to carry a dangerous weapon. He faces up to four years in prison.
Sentencing hearings for Hernandez, Amaya, Buezo and Marquez-Jacobo are scheduled for Aug. 24.
Alex Perdomo, 16, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in March. Perdomo, who was 15 at the time of the shooting, also is being tried in adult court under youthful offender status and will be remanded to juvenile detention until his sentencing when he turns 18 in fall 2024.
Noelle Alviz-Gransee is a breaking news reporter at the Des Moines Register. Follow her on Twitter@NoelleHannika or email her at NAlvizGransee@registermedia.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Final defendant in East High School drive-by shooting pleads guilty
