CNN
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Two students are dead and a staff member is in critical condition after a shooting at an education program in Des Moines, Iowa, according to the Des Moines Police Department.
At 12:53 p.m., police and fire personnel responded to a report of a shooting at 455 SW 5th Street, which houses a nonprofit called Start’s Right Here, police said in a news release.
They found the injured and took them to the hospital. The ages of the victims and suspects have not been released.
Police received a description of the vehicle involved in the shooting and made a traffic stop about 20 minutes after the shooting, about two miles away, said police Sgt. Paul Parisek told a press conference.
Two people remained in the vehicle and one got out and ran, Baricek said. Police found the suspect with a tracking dog, he said.
Parisek did not identify the suspects or say whether they have been charged.
“We have two people dead, so we are looking at very serious charges,” he said.
The reason for this is yet to be released by the police.
“The incident was definitely targeted,” he said. “It’s not accidental. There’s nothing random about it. It’s definitely a targeted incident. But as far as motivation goes, we’re going to try and find out.
According to the Starts Right Here website, “Starts Right Here (SRH) is busy empowering at-risk youth in Des Moines Public Schools and empowering youth through speaking events. SRH President Will Keeps performs empowering songs to inspire and speak truth.
Keeps is a musician from Des Moines.
The Des Moines Public Schools SRS partners with the school district to help students with the district’s Options Academy debt recovery program and support students who are no longer in the school building, the website says. SRS serves 40-50 DMPS students at any given time, the school district said.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, who is listed on the website’s advisory board, said she was “shocked and saddened” by the shooting.
“I was shocked and saddened to hear about the shooting to begin here. I have seen firsthand how hard Will Keeps and his staff work to help at-risk children through this alternative education program. My heart breaks for them, for these children, and for their families. Kevin and I pray for their safe recovery,” Reynolds said in a statement.
