Des Moines Police arrested a 13-year-old boy on Monday in connection with the May 6 shooting death of a Kent man at a Des Moines apartment complex parking lot.
Officers arrested the boy at Pacific Middle School for investigation of first-degree burglary, theft of a firearm and possession of a stolen vehicle, said Sgt. Doug Jenkins, Des Moines Police spokesman.
“While he did not actively participate in the homicide he was present when it occurred,” Jenkins said in an email. “He has also been linked to the burglary in Des Moines where the firearm used in the homicide was stolen. He has also been linked to the stolen car that was used as the getaway vehicle after the homicide occurred.”
No murder charge is expected to be filed against the boy because he did not participate in the commission of the homicide, Jenkins said.
Last week, King County prosecutors charged a 15-year-old boy with second-degree murder for allegedly shooting Carl D. Phelps, 41, once in the chest. Prosecutors also charged the 15-year-old with first-degree burglary, theft of a firearm and possession of a stolen firearm, according to court documents.
A third teenage boy, age 14, tied to the case faces charges of first-degree burglary, theft of a firearm, possessing a stolen firearm and taking a motor vehicle without permission. All three boys attended Pacific Middle School.
Phelps was riding a bicycle past the Shoreham Apartments, 22815 30th Ave. S., when a 10-year-old girl asked him about wanting the extra bicycle Phelps pulled alongside of him. Phelps responded in jest that he could trade the bike for the child in the stroller that the girl was pushing.
Several teenagers nearby reportedly didn’t like that comment and got in a verbal dispute with Phelps that led to him being surrounded in a parking lot by the teens. One boy pushed Phelps off of his bicycle and another boy shot him in the chest.
Detectives found the gun used in the murder and connected it to a Des Moines home burglary last month that the boys reportedly committed.
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