Des Moines man receives 45 years in prison for manslaughter, robberies

A Des Moines man was sentenced Thursday to 45 years in prison for his crimes, including the shooting death of Dok Nyok Akol Dok. 

Capone Millian Blake, 21, of Des Moines had previously pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery and voluntary manslaughter related to Mr. Dok’s killing in October 2022. He also pleaded guilty to 2nd degree robbery for a separate incident in October 2020 in Urbandale. 

After his guilty plea, Mr. Blake had filed a motion in arrest of judgment to withdraw the plea, saying he was misinformed by his attorneys. On Thursday, however, he withdrew his motion after the state objected to another continuance in the case.  

District Court Judge Charles Sinnard sentenced Mr. Blake to serve his sentences consecutively in both cases, for a total of 45 years. He must serve a mandatory 22 years, 6 months, in prison. The defendant must also pay a $150,000 civil penalty to the estate of Mr. Dok, and participate in a victim-offender dialogue with the Mr. Dok’s family, if they choose to do so. 

Mr. Blake was accused of attempting to rob Mr. Dok, 22, on Oct. 22, 2022, during a drug transaction near the Grubb YMCA in Des Moines. As Mr. Dok fled in his car, Mr. Blake fired a shot that struck him. Mr. Dok died on Oct. 26 from the gunshot wound.  

Mr. Dok’s father, Nyok Dok, and his brother, Akol Dok, told Mr. Blake and the court how his actions had caused suffering for relatives and friends from Iowa to Africa.  

Mr. Dok was born in Egypt as the family fled the war in Sudan. His brother, Akol, graduated from Iowa State University and has since returned to Sudan. His brother, too, had planned to move to Sudan and open a small business to help people in their homeland.  

“I spoke to him a week before (the shooting.) I was cleaning out an extra room for him,” said Akol, who returned to Des Moines for the sentencing. 

Both the father and son said they forgave Mr. Blake for his actions.  

“The killing of an innocent person will haunt you. You are such a young person, as Dok was. This will affect your mom, dad, and family,” Nyok Dok said. “I forgive you.” 

Akol Dok said he looked up Mr. Blake’s photo on the Polk County Inmates website every day.  

“I hated you,” Akol Dok said. “I cursed you. But now, I am not going to do that anymore. But this is a burden that you will have to live with. The best thing I want for you, is to find peace within yourself. This sentencing has given me that peace.”