DES MOINES, Wash. — Two men have been charged with allegedly shooting and killing an apparent stranger in Des Moines last month.
On Sept. 20, 31-year-old Abraham Logan was shot and killed in downtown Des Moines, off Marine View Dr. S.
According to police, an argument broke out between the victim and another individual before the victim was chased into a nearby parking lot and shot. The victim died at the scene, and the gunmen ran away.
Court documents say Logan and his family attended a birthday party in Federal Way earlier that day, then went to the Waterland Arcade in Des Moines for another birthday party.
Logan and his family stayed until 8 p.m. before going across the street to Jamar’s Bar for dinner, docs said. As they left the bar later that night, they walked by the All-Star Bar, where the family saw three men beating someone up in front of the bar.
Court docs say Logan tried to verbally break up the fight. His wife heard him yell “He’s got a gun!” before seeing him run away and seeing two men chase him while shooting at him, docs said.
The family’s account appears to be confirmed by area surveillance footage, according to court docs.
That surveillance video showed the two men coming at him and firing from different directions, docs said.
Logan was pronounced dead at the scene. Court documents say he was unarmed.
Detectives were able to identify the suspects as Derrick Stell Jr. (29) and Keenan Stell (43). Court docs say the pair are uncle and nephew.
“To kill someone who was simply called you out on your own bad behavior reveals the defendant to be a person of extreme capacity to inflict injury and death on others with no consideration of the human cost. Based on the extremely violent nature of the crime, the defendant poses a clear danger to the public,” prosecutors said in court documents.
Both the Stells have been charged with first-degree murder with a firearm enhancement and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Prosecutors asked Keenan Stell be held on $3 million bail, and asked Derrick Stell Jr be held on no bail. Prosecutors asked for no bail because Stell Jr. has “convictions for three Most Serious Offenses”, also referred to as the “Three Strikes Rule”.
Prosecutors said Stell Jr. has been convicted twice for different first-degree robbery cases and second-degree assault. The murder charge, or a lesser degree of second-degree murder or manslaughter, woult be his “Third Strike,” prosecutors said.
“Combined with the current allegation of the defendant gunning down an innocent, unarmed victim on a populated city street, the defendant clearly poses a substantial likelihood of danger to the community or any person. Further, as a Three Strike candidate, the defendant is a considerable flight risk,” prosecutors wrote in court docs.
Both are scheduled to be arraigned on Oct. 22.