In the early hours of Wednesday, July 2, 2025, tragedy struck the quiet 3600 block of Kennedy Drive in Des Moines, Iowa, as 35-year-old Percy Butler was gunned down near an apartment building in a confrontation that ended his life and stunned a community. Identified by police just hours later, Butler’s death became the latest fatal chapter in the city’s mounting struggle with gun violence—one that unfolded in the middle of the night but reverberated with daylight clarity for those who knew him. According to investigators, the suspected shooter, 31-year-old Tywone Morrow, was apprehended soon after the incident and has since been charged with first-degree murder in connection with Butler’s killing.
The deadly confrontation began just after midnight, around 12:15 a.m., when the Des Moines Police Department received reports of gunfire on Kennedy Drive. Multiple callers reported hearing several shots in succession followed by the sound of someone collapsing. Responding officers arrived swiftly to find an adult male—later identified as Butler—lying near the entrance to an apartment building. His wounds were visibly grave, prompting officers to call in emergency medical personnel without delay.
Butler was rushed to a nearby hospital in a final effort to save his life. Despite the urgency of care, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The cause of death was confirmed to be a gunshot wound sustained during the earlier confrontation. The news of his passing shattered the early morning quiet and drew concern across the neighborhood, where residents were awakened not only by the sound of gunfire but by the flashing lights and heavy police presence that followed.
Witnesses at the scene provided early leads. Several residents described hearing arguing in the moments leading up to the shots. Though the precise nature of the dispute remains under investigation, authorities quickly homed in on a suspect—Tywone Morrow. The 31-year-old was taken into custody without incident. Investigators believe the two men knew each other and had become embroiled in a dispute that escalated into fatal violence.
Police have not released further details about what sparked the argument or clarified the exact nature of the relationship between Morrow and Butler. However, officials have emphasized that the confrontation quickly turned deadly. Morrow, according to the preliminary report, allegedly drew a firearm during the heated exchange and shot Butler, leaving him mortally wounded on the sidewalk. The rapid escalation of events and the immediacy of the violence have left authorities and residents alike grappling with how such a tragedy could unfold so quickly.
As the investigation continues, detectives with the Des Moines Police Department remain focused on gathering evidence, securing eyewitness testimony, and building a comprehensive picture of the events leading up to the shooting. No additional suspects have been named, and police have not ruled out the possibility that more charges could be filed depending on the trajectory of the case. For now, Morrow stands alone as the accused, facing the gravest of charges: first-degree murder.
Butler’s death, while heartbreaking on its own, fits into a wider and increasingly urgent pattern in Des Moines and across the country. Gun violence remains a top concern for both law enforcement and community leaders. This incident, in which two individuals who reportedly knew each other became embroiled in a deadly dispute, underscores a troubling trend: interpersonal conflicts turning lethal in moments of rage, with firearms at the center of the devastation.
This isn’t a case of random violence. Nor is it a mystery shrouded in anonymity. It is, rather, a painfully intimate episode—a conflict between two known individuals that spiraled beyond control. These are the kinds of events that make gun violence prevention so complex. When the line between argument and homicide becomes paper-thin, it exposes how vulnerable communities are to emotional volatility paired with easy access to deadly weapons.
Des Moines authorities, in response, have renewed their calls for community involvement and preemptive intervention. They emphasize the importance of conflict resolution and early mediation in disputes, particularly between acquaintances. The hope is that tragedies like Butler’s can be prevented if at-risk confrontations are addressed before they reach a boiling point. That mission, however, is easier said than done, especially in neighborhoods where resources are stretched and tensions often simmer just beneath the surface.
The Des Moines Police Department has also reiterated the need for witnesses to come forward. While an arrest has been made, investigators are still building the case and are seeking anyone who may have seen or heard elements of the confrontation, or who may possess critical information about the days or hours leading up to it. Community trust plays a vital role in ensuring that justice is served—not just for Butler, but for public safety at large.
In the meantime, Butler’s friends and family are left to confront the magnitude of their loss. As of yet, no public statements have been made by his relatives, and funeral arrangements have not been announced. In moments like these, silence often reflects both shock and sorrow. Behind every obituary headline is a family reeling from the reality that someone they loved will never come home again.
Butler’s death also leaves a psychological scar on Kennedy Drive. For neighbors who witnessed the aftermath or who knew him personally, the trauma is raw and unresolved. The nighttime shooting has left many feeling unsafe, disillusioned by the proximity of danger, and angry at the senselessness of it all. Community leaders are once again being called upon to help not only in grieving but in creating safer, more stable environments.
The broader implications of this event extend beyond the immediate police response. It invites a deeper examination of how cities like Des Moines are confronting the surge in interpersonal gun violence. Nationwide, cities are grappling with rising rates of homicides, many of them triggered by personal disputes, domestic arguments, or neighborhood tensions. While gang violence and drug-related crimes often dominate headlines, cases like Butler’s—rooted in known associations and erupting in familiar places—are increasingly common.
What remains to be seen is how this particular case will play out through the legal system. Morrow, now facing a first-degree murder charge, is likely to remain in custody as prosecutors build their case. The severity of the charge reflects both the intentional nature of the shooting and the public interest in demonstrating accountability. However, as with all criminal proceedings, the presumption of innocence remains, and Morrow will be entitled to due process as the case advances through the courts.
In the meantime, the city of Des Moines must reckon with what has happened and determine how to prevent it from happening again. The solutions are not simple. They involve a complex web of policing, community outreach, mental health support, youth engagement, and, above all, access to firearms. Until these areas are addressed holistically, incidents like the death of Percy Butler will continue to haunt headlines and fracture families.
For now, the memory of Percy Butler lives on in the silence he leaves behind: the unanswered calls, the unfinished plans, the grief now embedded in every corner of Kennedy Drive. His death is more than a police report; it’s a signal of a deeper issue—a reminder that behind every shooting statistic lies a name, a life, and a web of people left to carry the sorrow.
Authorities continue to urge anyone with additional information about the shooting or the events leading up to it to contact the Des Moines Police Department. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the Crime Stoppers program. Even the smallest detail, they stress, could help close the case and provide resolution to a family in mourning.