Second arrest follows deadly Fourth of July party shooting in West Des Moines
West Des Moines police announced Thursday that a second teenager has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the shooting that killed a 17-year-old girl during a July Fourth gathering. The victim, identified by police as 17-year-old Teonnie Tillman of Ankeny, was struck at about 10:35 p.m. at a large party in the 1100 block of 20th Place and later died at a Des Moines hospital.
Authorities said detectives took 17-year-old Miles Lee into custody without incident Thursday and transported him to Juvenile Court Intake. Because of the severity of the charge, Lee will be prosecuted as an adult.
“He was taken into custody without incident,”
Investigators believe the fatal shooting stemmed from an argument between Lee and an 18-year-old who was arrested earlier in the case. West Des Moines police previously arrested Bryone Sanchez-Zermeno on July 5 and charged him with intimidation with a dangerous weapon and assault while displaying a dangerous weapon. Court documents allege Sanchez-Zermeno pointed a firearm during the dispute and threatened to shoot toward another person and the house; police said the person identified in those documents was not the victim who later died.
What police say about the incident
Police reports indicate a verbal argument at the party escalated before shots were fired and that the crowd dispersed when officers arrived on scene. Detectives believe Tillman was an uninvolved bystander who was not part of the dispute that led to gunfire. The West Des Moines Police Department says the investigation remains open but that detectives do not anticipate additional arrests at this time.
- Date and time: July 4, about 10:35 p.m.
- Location: 1100 block of 20th Place, West Des Moines
- Victim: 17-year-old Teonnie Tillman of Ankeny (deceased)
- Arrests: 18-year-old Bryone Sanchez-Zermeno (arrested July 5); 17-year-old Miles Lee (arrested July 16), charged with first-degree murder
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Incident | Fatal shooting at a house party |
| Police action | Two teenagers arrested; one will be tried as an adult |
| Investigation status | Open; no further arrests expected, per police |
For neighbors and families across Des Moines and the surrounding suburbs, the case underscores ongoing concerns about firearm violence at large gatherings and the involvement of juveniles in serious crimes. Local law enforcement agencies across Polk County have in recent years responded to high-profile incidents where arguments at parties or gatherings escalated to shootings; this case will be closely watched as prosecutors decide how to proceed with an adult murder charge against a 17-year-old.
West Des Moines police have not released additional details about a possible motive beyond the reported argument, nor have they provided a timeline for when prosecutors will file formal charges beyond what has been announced. Court proceedings and any future police updates will offer more information about the roles of the individuals involved and the evidence investigators say they have gathered.
Anyone with information about the shooting was asked by police to contact the West Des Moines Police Department’s investigators.
