Iowa teen on trial for killing of two fellow students says he feared for his life

Preston Walls appears in court at the Polk County Courthouse in his trial in connection with the shooting at Starts Right Here at the Polk County Courthouse on Thursday, August 31, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa. The trial is beginning this week for the first of two teens charged with murder in a shooting at a Des Moines alternative school that left two students dead and the program’s founder injured. (Lily Smith/Des Moines Register via AP)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines teenager feared for his life when he fatally shot two fellow students at an alternative educational program for at-risk youth, his lawyer said Thursday, rebutting a claim by prosecutors that the shooting was a premeditated attack on rival gang members.

19-year-old Preston Walls is one of two students charged in the shooting at the Starts Right Here program on Jan. 23, which killed 18-year-old Gionni Dameron and 16-year-old Rashad Carr. The victims’ families have denied they were involved in gangs.

The school’s founder Will Keeps, himself an ex-gang member, was wounded trying to intervene to stop the violence. He still has lingering injuries.

As Walls’ trial began Thursday, attorney Glen Downey said his client admits he pulled the trigger but did so because “he didn’t want to die.”

Prosecutor Stephanie Cox told jurors they would hear testimony from Keeps and see footage of the shootings.

Walls is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder and criminal gang participation. Jury selection had stretched for more than three days.

19-year-old Bravon Tukes is set to stand trial on the same charges on Oct. 2. Police allege that Walls fired the shots before fleeing in a car driven by Tukes.