Two Miles, One Tragedy in West Des Moines | Des Moines News

A deadly July Fourth shooting in West Des Moines turned into a shocking legal twist: an 18-year-old, Byrone Sanchez-Zermeno, was arrested for weapons charges, but investigators now say the trigger was a dispute with 17-year-old Miles Lee — who’s now facing first-degree murder for killing another 17-year-old, also named Miles Lee. The victim was an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire. With Des Moines already seeing more homicides in 2026 than all of 2025, this case underscores a city in crisis. Lee, charged as an adult, is held on a $1 million cash bond, with his hearing set for July 27. Sanchez-Zermeno remains in custody for unrelated charges, with shooting-related charges dropped. A tragic reminder: violence can erupt from small arguments — with devastating consequences for everyone. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/e5e360374bfbefc2