Mark Atkins
Des Moines in Polk CountyMark Atkins, 22, was shot in the head and neck in the back yard of a Des Moines home on Monday, August 14, 1995.
Des Moines police were summoned to 1814 6th Street at approximately 11:40 p.m., where they found Atkins behind the home. Atkins, who resided at 1113 21st Street, was still alive at the time but later died at a Des Moines hospital.
According to Des Moines police, a number of individuals were present when the shooting took place. Atkins allegedly tried to intervene in an argument over a ring when a man dressed in black pants and a red hoodie over a black shirt grabbed Atkins and shot him.
Courtesy photo Google Street ViewDuring a search of the area, police arrested 23-year-old Howard Nelson, who’d previously been charged in the 1988 murder of Barry Collier of Des Moines. Nelson pled guilty to manslaughter in that case, but police were unable to connect him to Atkins’ murder. Nelson was, however, charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Mark Anthony Atkins was born Nov. 5, 1972.
He was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Saginaw, Michigan, in Saginaw County.
If you have any information about Mark Atkins’ unsolved murder please contact the Des Moines Police Department at 515-283-4864.
This man was a criminal.
Who gives a damn about his murder?
May he NOT rest in peace