DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI/KCRG) – Des Moines police say a 40-year-old woman injured in a shooting Friday afternoon in Des Moines has died after a man she recently ended a relationship with shot her. Police say Jessica Henderson died Saturday morning. According to investigators, Abdul Jabbar Jackson, 50, used a handgun to shoot Henderson and her dog on Friday. According to police, Jackson then fired at one of Henderson’s friends before shooting himself. Officers and Des Moines Fire Department rescue crews performed life-saving measures on Henderson and Jackson at the scene, where Jackson was pronounced dead. According to DMPD, Jackson posted bond and was released from the Polk County Jail just over six hours before the shooting on Friday afternoon. Police say Henderson had contacted Des Moines police less than two weeks before the shooting to report threatening communications from Jackson after she ended a relationship with him. According to police, the messages included threats to shoot her. Investigators requested arrest warrants for two first-degree harassment charges. The day after that report, police say a GPS tracking device was found on Henderson’s vehicle and turned over to detectives. Investigators identified Jackson as a suspect. Police found Jackson on May 6 and arrested him. He was then taken to the Polk County Jail. According to DMPD, Jackson posted bond and was released from the Polk County Jail just over six hours before the shooting on Friday afternoon. Police say two handguns were recovered at the scene. Des Moines police are continuing to investigate.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – A University of Iowa student who suffered the most serious injuries in a shooting at the Ped Mall in Iowa City last month is out of the ICU and moved into the neuroscience unit. Miranda Peters’ sister, Janjay Peters, shared the update on May 7, saying Miranda is showing small signs of progress. It said she has opened her eyes, blinked, and shown slight eye movement. The update said Miranda also had movement in her right hand and slight movement in her right foot, and was able to sit in a chair with assistance. The shooting happened at the Pedestrian Mall in Iowa City around 1:45 a.m. on April 19. Five people were hurt, including Peters. Iowa City Police said 17-year-old Damarian Jones of Cedar Rapids was involved in a fight before he retrieved a gun from another person and fired six shots into the crowd, hitting five people. Authorities said there is no evidence Jones targeted any of the victims, and none were involved in the initial fight. Iowa City Police are still searching for Jones. He is facing five counts of attempted murder among several other charges. The Iowa City Police Department said it expects to arrest more people in addition to the charges for Jones.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – The Iowa State Auditor’s office will conduct a partial re-audit of the Cedar Rapids Community School District. The district sent a letter to families Thursday notifying them of the audit. According to the letter, this is a limited review, and the district has not received specifics about what the auditor is looking into. State Sen. Molly Donahue, who is also an educator in the district, told TV9 Friday night that a group of concerned citizens reached out to her wanting to request the audit. Donahue said she helped them get their petition to Auditor Rob Sand’s office. According to Iowa Code, the Auditor of State Office must keep all information and work papers, including allegations of misconduct, confidential during an active audit or investigation. This information cannot be released to the public until the final report is published.
MUSCATINE, Iowa (KCRG) – A 13-year-old is facing several charges after police say he broke into eastern Iowa businesses and a vehicle multiple times in less than two weeks. The juvenile is charged with third-degree burglary, burglary of a motor vehicle, two counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief, possession of drug paraphernalia, underage possession of alcohol, and three counts of fifth-degree theft. According to officers, the juvenile committed multiple crimes in Muscatine between April 25 and May 6. He is accused of stealing alcohol from Maverik Convenience Store on April 25 at 10:38 p.m. Police say he also stole from the same store on April 27 at 2:54 a.m. According to police, he allegedly broke into a vehicle parked in the 300 block of Oak Street early May 6, then broke into Alex’s Tobacco and Vape and stole merchandise hours later at 3:11 a.m. The juvenile was released to the custody of a parent after he was charged. His identity is not being released under Iowa law because he is a minor.
