Police identify victim in deadly Des Moines shooting

DES MOINES, Iowa — The name of the man who died after being shot during a fight at a Des Moines convenience store parking lot early Sunday morning has been released.

Rayjon Ray, 24 of Des Moines, has been identified as the victim in the shooting, according to Sgt. Paul Parizek of the Des Moines Police Department.

Emergency crews responded to a crash at 2nd Ave. and University Ave. around 5:29 a.m. Sunday and found Ray inside a vehicle that had crashed into a retaining wall. He was suffering from a gunshot injury and was critically wounded. Medics transported Ray to a local hospital for treatment but he died from his injuries.

Investigators gathered evidence, including surveillance video, that indicated Ray had been part of a large gathering at a convenience store parking lot at 1442 2nd Ave. early Sunday morning. Arguments broke out during the gathering and escalated to a physical fight. Sgt. Parizek said Ray intervened and struck 25-year-old Kyonta Taylor, knocking him to the ground and that’s when Taylor pulled a gun and shot Ray.

Taylor was arrested Monday and is charged with voluntary manslaughter and felon in possession of a firearm. He is being held in the Polk County Jail.

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