Teen pleads guilty to murder in East High shootings

A Des Moines teenager pleaded guilty Friday to first-degree murder in a fatal drive-by shooting at Des Moines East High School. 

Nyang Mai Chamdual, 16, is the third defendant in the case to plead guilty to first-degree murder. Seven other teens have been charged in the case, and all but one has pleaded guilty. 

Jose Lopez-Perez, 15, was killed in the March 7, 2022, shooting, and Kemery Ortega and Jessica Lopez Torres were critically injured. They were part of a group of teens congregating outside the school when dozens of gunshots were fired toward them from three vehicles driving past.  

Chamdual, who was 14 at the time of the offense, will return to juvenile court custody until he turns 18, when he will be sentenced in adult court. He could face life in prison with the possibility of parole.  

Here is a summary of the cases of the other defendants: 

• Octavio Lopez Sanchez Jr., 18, faces trial Aug. 14 on first-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder, and two counts of willful injury.  
• Henry David Valladares Amaya, 19, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and two counts of willful injury causing serious injury. He will be sentenced Aug. 24, 2023. 
• Daniel Hernandez, 19, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder and two counts of willful injury causing a serious injury. He will be sentenced Aug. 24.
• Manuel De Jesus Buezo, 18, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and two counts of willful injury causing serious injury. He will be sentenced Aug. 24. 
• Gumaro Marquez-Jacobo, 19, pleaded guilty to one count of accessory after the fact, one count of person ineligible to carry a dangerous weapon, and one count of providing a pistol or revolver to a person under 21. He will be sentenced Aug. 24. 
• Alex Perdomo, 16, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and will be sentenced Oct. 17, 2024, when he turns 18. 
• Romeo Perdomo, 18, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, because he was a juvenile at the time of the crime. 
• Braulio Damien Hernandez-Salas, 18, pleaded guilty to two charges of intimidation with a dangerous weapon and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.  
• Kevin Isidro Martinez, 17, pleaded guilty to two counts of intimidation with a dangerous weapon and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.