DES MOINES, Iowa — A 73-year-old man has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder following the fatal shooting of his 38-year-old step-grandson in the early hours of Tuesday morning, the Des Moines Police Department announced.
Officers responded to a shooting report at approximately 12:45 a.m. in the 200 block of Bell Avenue, located in the Indianola Hills neighborhood of Des Moines. Upon arriving at the scene, police found 38-year-old Ryan Schonlau with gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The suspect, identified as David Lee Ramsey, was present at the residence when officers arrived and was detained without incident. Ramsey, who lived at the same home as Schonlau, was subsequently arrested and charged with first-degree murder, a Class A felony. He has been booked into the Polk County Jail, where he is being held pending further legal proceedings.
Authorities have not released details regarding the circumstances leading up to the shooting or any potential motive. The Des Moines Police Department noted that this was the first reported call to the residence, with no prior history of violent incidents at the location. The investigation remains active, with police continuing to gather evidence and interview potential witnesses to establish the events that led to the fatal encounter.
No additional information has been disclosed about whether others were present in the home at the time of the incident or any prior relationship dynamics between Ramsey and Schonlau. The Des Moines Police Department has indicated that further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.