Drug Deal Shooting Case Ends in Probation

Two men in the fatal April shooting of Devonte Moten in Des Moines each received a deferred judgment and two years of probation.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Drug Crime

Drug Deal Shooting Case Ends in Probation

Anijah Ford and Jaylen Cooper each received a deferred judgment and two years of probation after pleading guilty to felony drug charges tied to the fatal shooting of Devonte Moten, 35, in Des Moines in April. Neither was charged with murder or manslaughter in connection with Moten's death.

Why it matters

The outcome shows how a drug-related shooting can resolve through a lesser drug offense rather than a homicide charge, a result that affects how similar cases are understood in Des Moines. For residents, it highlights the legal consequences that follow when arranged drug transactions turn violent.

Both defendants pleaded guilty to drug-related charges and received deferred judgments with two years of probation, as of October 28. The reasoning behind not filing murder or manslaughter charges is not addressed in the available record.

The players

Jaylen Cooper

Jaylen Cooper, 21, was the man who shot Devonte Moten and pleaded guilty to a related drug offense.

Anijah Ford

Anijah Ford, 19, pleaded guilty to felony drug conspiracy and received a deferred judgment and two years of probation.

The details

Devonte Moten met Jaylen Cooper and Anijah Ford on April 2 for an arranged drug transaction, which turned into an argument. Moten attacked Cooper in a Park Street apartment building lobby, and Cooper shot him; Moten drove away before collapsing and dying.

April 2: Arranged drug transaction and fatal shooting of Devonte Moten in Des Moines.
July: Anijah Ford pleaded guilty to the controlled substance charge.
October 28: Jaylen Cooper received a deferred judgment and two years of probation.

Legal Context

Iowa's deferred judgment system allows some felony defendants to avoid a conviction on their record if they complete probation. This case shows that mechanism applied to defendants connected to a fatal shooting, raising questions about how drug-conspiracy charges are weighed against homicide exposure in Des Moines.

Residents of Des Moines may notice continued prosecution activity around drug-related violence, as similar arranged transactions can end in shootings. Business and building owners near Park Street may want to review lobby and entry security given that the attack occurred in an apartment building lobby.

The takeaway

Arranged drug deals carry a risk of violence that can lead to serious consequences for everyone involved, even when charges are reduced. Anyone who finds themselves in a dispute during a transaction should step away and contact law enforcement rather than escalate the situation.