Jury convicts Harris of first-degree murder in Drake area shooting

A Polk County jury convicted a Des Moines man of first-degree murder Friday in the shooting of Tyrell Lavell Grimes last year. 

Mr. Grimes, 39, was shot twice near the 2400 block of University Avenue on Aug. 19, 2022. Evidence indicated that Grimes and Andrew Jerome Harris, 44, argued outside Rico’s at Drake bar and grill, and then Harris left the scene in his vehicle. According to video evidence and witness testimony, Mr. Harris then returned to the area about eight minutes later to confront Mr. Grimes. 

Mr. Harris initially told police he was not at the scene of the shooting. He later said the shooting was in self-defense because he believed Grimes posed a threat to him.  

Mr. Harris is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 13. First-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant County Attorneys Olu Salami and Karli Mays, with assistance from Kayla McKee. Detective Chase Lohnes and other officers from the Des Moines Police Department conducted the investigation.