Victor Robinson Jr.

Victor Robinson Jr.

Victor Robinson Jr.

Homicide

Victor Robinson Jr.
AKA aka Bipp, Big Butter and Butta
41 YOA
3720 Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway
Des Moines
Polk County
Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Case Summary

 
Victor Robinson Jr., 41, of Des Moines, was shot multiple times in the early morning hours on Wednesday, June 22, 2016, in the Summerwoods Apartment Complex parking lot. He died from his injuries at a local hospital a short time later.

Robinson did not live at the apartment complex but was visiting people there at the time of the shooting.

Police initially received reports of shooting in the area at 1:58 a.m. When officers arrived at the apartment complex, they found Robinson outside the building suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, including at least one shot to his torso.

Robinson was Des Moines’ fifth homicide of the year.

Summerwoods Apartment Complex Manager Carla Robinson told the Des Moines Register she had tenants banging on her door moments after the shooting, and that they ran out and found the victim bleeding in the parking lot next to a car. Tenants rushed to his side as ambulances arrived on scene.

Later that day, Des Moines police spokesman Sgt. Ryan Doty indicated that Robinson may have known his killer.

“Our thought right now is the person who shot him knew that person or he was the intended target. It wasn’t a random act,” Sgt. Doty told the press.

Police said there was no harm to the public because the homicide was a targeted shooting for a reason that’s still unknown.

Generally a quiet area

Police described the area where Robinson was shot as generally quiet and said they don’t make many trips to the 3700 block of MLK Jr. Parkway. After Robison’s death, however, officials blocked off the scene for hours while interviewing witnesses and processing the evidence.

Courtesy photo KCCI.com
Victor Robinson was shot outside this apartment building located at 3720 Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway in Des Moines.

Carla Robinson, who’d been managing the complex for six years, said this is the first time a murder has happened on her property.

Ms. Robinson said her surveillance cameras that point at the parking lot haven’t worked for the last year and a half so they weren’t able to help catch a potential suspect.

The police are asking any nearby businesses or people who may have been in the area at the time to turn over any information about the shooting to police.

Police said they didn’t have a motive for the shooting, and that they were currently interviewing witnesses and looking for suspect descriptions and vehicle descriptions that may have been in the area around 2 a.m.

“The Victor Robinson homicide is particularly frustrating for us because we`ve got probably more than 20 eyewitnesses, but they just won’t cooperate,” said Sgt. Parizek.

Robinson was with other people at the time of the shooting, but no other injuries were reported, Doty said.

Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway was closed just north of Euclid Avenue for several hours Wednesday morning as police processed the crime scene.

Detectives have interviewed some witnesses, Doty said, but police are still asking anyone who may have witnessed the shooting or who may have other relevant information to contact the police department at 515-283-4084.

About Victor Robinson Jr. (from obituary)

Victor Robinson Jr., aka Bipp, Big Butter and Butta, was born on September 22, 1974 to Victor Robinson Sr. and Shirley A. Godley. He was the first born child to his parents.

Courtesy photo gunmemorial.net
Victor Robinson Jr.

VJ received his education through the Chicago Public Schools. He attended Simeon High School for a short time and later graduated from Tilden High School. He furthered his education at Job Corps in Texas and became a Professional Brick Layer. He worked in different factories and jobs in both Illinois and Iowa.

VJ studied the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses for years until he decided to move away from his mother’s home. VJ loved his mother and no matter what, he would come back and forth to see her. He knew that when and if he called her, she would be on her way to see about him. When he was in trouble with the law, he knew she would rescue him no matter what. Even when he was sick during the last 10 years, he would say, call my mom, my sickle cell is acting up.

VJ was a family man that loved his family and they all loved him. He loved helping people always making them smile and laugh. Big Butter was a true comedian with a big heart and very talkative.

VJ and his stepfather Jessie Godley were extremely close. Jessie helped raise VJ and you could not tell Jessie wasn’t his biological father. As VJ got older, he began calling Jessie “Daddy” and “Pops”. Through the years, they became best of friends having the best father and son relationship.

VJ was a loving father that loved all of his children dearly even with them being in different states. He loved his brother Damien L. Robinson Sr. and his sister Meonkatoleray Unique Godley unconditionally. Their sibling bond was real, one that most would not understand.

VJ will be missed dearly. There are numerous stories to be shared about VJ and his love of many family members. His uncle Rocky Donahue, whom he referred to as his twin and who he imitated; to how he loved visiting his uncle Timothy Donahue in Louisiana where he would ride the horses; his aunt Joyce Forbes and his his aunt Enola Stewart who gave him the nickname of Bipp. He loved visiting Louisiana and spending time with his cousins Jerome Forbes Jr. and Liquita Harris. He will be missed in Louisiana, Chicago, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

VJ loved his neighborhood friend, Ameera Jamison. In 2008, the two united in marriage. To this union two children were born.

VJ was preceded in death by his father, Victor Robinson Sr. in 2003 and his adopted brother, Joseph L. Harris in 1998.

Victor leaves to cherish his loving memories, his wife, Ameera Jamison; his mother, Shirley Ann Godley and stepfather, Jessie Godley; his children, Briana D., Victor Tsezar III, Devonte Antone, Mariah Nicole, Domiseha, Kira Simone, Tykeesha Lashay, Anisha Rasheeda Aaisha, Devontae, Ameen Ghaalib One, Iceola, Jayceon Sincere and Blessyn Taje’ Monique; his brother, Damien Leroy Robinson Sr.; his sister, Meonkatoleray Unique Godley; three grandchildren; two special brothers, Antonio Phillips “Lucky” and David Hasenburg; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

His family has created a Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories.

Information Needed

The Des Moines Police Department asks that anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has information about the incident or who may have security footage that captured the incident to please contact the Des Moines Police Department at (515) 283-4084 or contact Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa at (515) 223-1400 or www.crimestoppersofcentraliowa.com.

Tipsters can anonymously report a crime through Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa by calling 515-223-1400, or 800-452-1111.

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