Two sentenced to prison for involvement in 2017 shooting death of Des Moines teen

Two people accused of involvement in the 2017 shooting death of a Des Moines teen were sentenced to prison after pleading guilty this week.

Daniel Lamay, 23, and Crystal Lee, 33, were charged in 2017 with first-degree murder over the death of 19-year-old Noah Campbell. On Tuesday, they both pleaded guilty under plea agreements in Polk County District Court to willful injury causing serious injury, a felony.

Judge Scott Bettie accepted their pleas and sentenced them both to prison for not more than 10 years. Lamay and Lee must serve at least five years under Iowa law. Their sentences will be served consecutively with prison time stemming from other cases.

Lamay and Lee must submit a DNA sample, pay fines and damages and participate in a reconciliation program with the victim's family if the family so chooses.

Campbell, who was a senior at Des Moines' Scavo High School when he was killed, was shot to death outside a gas station in Des Moines' Gray's Woods neighborhood in August 2017. Prosecutors alleged Lamay aided and abetted the shooting, while Lee was the driver. Neither was the suspected shooter.

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Malik Mandujano, 23, was charged in March 2018 with first-degree murder in Campbell's death. Prosecutors alleged that on Aug. 22, 2017, Mandujano laid and waited for Campbell around 10:08 p.m. with others as Campbell walked south down East 38th Street down Easton Boulevard.

Mandujano was accused of shooting a gun multiple times, striking Campbell and causing his death. He was also accused of then getting into a vehicle and fleeing the scene, according to the criminal complaint.

Campbell, who family and friends said dreamed of becoming a hip-hop artist, later died at a hospital. Police said at the time that the suspects knew Campbell, who appeared to be specifically targeted in the shooting. Court documents also said that police used surveillance video to determine what happened.

Mandujano ultimately pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He also pleaded guilty to felonies in other cases. His pleas have also been accepted by Beattie. A sentencing hearing on his charges is scheduled for Nov. 12.

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A smart and independent kid with a passion for music

After Campbell's death, friends and family said they didn't want him to be defined by street violence.

"Noah was a smart and independent kid that loved his family," his father, Troy Campbell, said in a statement to the Des Moines Register at the time.

"As he grew older, music became his passion. He was always listening to, writing and recording his own music," Troy said. "He dreamed of being a rap/hip-hop artist. But his dream was cut short due to gun violence."

Jennifer Stalder, a supervisor with the SUCCESS program in Des Moines Public Schools, told the Register in 2017 that she'd worked with Campbell since he was in sixth grade.

"I was incredibly saddened (to hear about his death)," she said, "because Noah had big dreams, and he won't be able to see that through."

Chris Higgins covers the eastern suburbs for the Register. Reach him at chiggins@registermedia.com and follow him on Twitter @chris_higgins_.