De’Tavion Marques Levi Obituary, Death – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has released the identity of the man killed in a deadly weekend shooting outside The Lumberyard, an adult entertainment club in northeast Polk County. Authorities confirmed the victim as 28-year-old De’Tavion Marques Levi of Des Moines. Deputies were called to the club, located at 1504 N.E. 54th Avenue, at about 3:41 a.m. on Saturday, September 13, after receiving reports of gunfire. Upon arrival, they found Levi dead in the parking lot.
Following the incident, deputies arrested 30-year-old Derico Darrell Lowery, also of Des Moines. He is facing charges of first-degree murder and felon in possession of a firearm. According to court filings, investigators allege that Lowery shot Levi “with premeditation.” Authorities have not released further details about what led to the shooting, and the motive behind the deadly encounter remains unclear.
Lowery appeared before a judge on Sunday for his initial court appearance. During the hearing, his bond was set at $1 million cash-only, and he was granted access to a court-appointed attorney. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for September 24 in Polk County District Court, where the case will begin moving through the legal process. For now, Lowery remains held at the Polk County Jail.
The incident has drawn renewed attention to The Lumberyard, which has a history of violence tied to its premises. The club, which has been in operation since the early 2000s, has seen deadly incidents in the past. In 2006, 27-year-old Luca Jon Pasa was fatally stabbed in the club’s parking lot following a late-night altercation. At the time, 18-year-old Erik Gilge was arrested and later convicted of voluntary manslaughter. Pasa’s family pursued a wrongful death lawsuit against the club’s ownership and its security team, accusing them of negligence. However, the jury ultimately sided with the defendants, and the verdict was later upheld on appeal.
While representatives of The Lumberyard have not responded to calls or emails regarding the most recent tragedy, the latest shooting raises ongoing concerns about safety in and around the establishment. Community members have expressed unease in the past over violent incidents linked to the club, and this new case may renew those discussions.
The sheriff’s office continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding Levi’s death. Authorities are working to determine what sparked the confrontation that ended in gunfire. They have urged anyone with information that could aid the investigation to come forward.
For now, Levi’s death adds another chapter to the history of violence at the club and has left family and friends mourning the loss of a young man. Meanwhile, Lowery faces the prospect of a long legal battle, with the weight of a first-degree murder charge—the most serious homicide charge in Iowa—hanging over him.
As the investigation unfolds, both the community and Levi’s loved ones are left seeking answers, while prosecutors prepare their case against Lowery in what could become another high-profile trial tied to violence at The Lumberyard.
