Authorities in a Des Moines suburb have identified a 29-year-old woman and the suspected gunman who shot her to death late Friday outside an Applebee's restaurant.Altoona police said the shooting happened just before 11 p.m. in the Applebee's parking lot in the 3700 block of Eighth Street Southwest following reports of a domestic situation, though the circumstances leading up to the shooting weren't immediately clear."It got scary realizing what was going on, especially because I have friends that work in there," said Amanda Bevins, who lives near the shooting scene. "I was scared for them."When officers arrived at the scene, they found Chekesha Clark, of Des Moines, had suffered a gunshot wound. The suspected gunman, identified as 30-year-old Kalen Burgess, fled the scene, authorities said. The two were in a relationship and share a child together, Altoona police Sgt. Alyssa Wilson said. The child was not at the scene. About two hours after the shooting, Des Moines police found Burgess dead of what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound."We were over at the Walmart coming out, and we saw three or four police officers flying down the road," said Jordan Cox, who witnessed the chaotic scene as it unfolded. "We had no idea what was going on. We thought it was just like a robbery or a fight. That doesn't happen around here at all."Law enforcement officials said there was no threat to the public."Prayers to the family," Cox said. "It's terrible that something like this would happen. It's unimaginable, and it's just crazy that something like this would happen.""You don't feel safe anymore," Bevin added.The shooting is being investigated by the Altoona Police Department, the Des Moines Police Department, the Polk County Sheriff's Office, the Polk County Attorney's Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the state medical examiner's office. The Pleasant Hill Police Department assisted in the investigation.

Authorities in a Des Moines suburb have identified a 29-year-old woman and the suspected gunman who shot her to death late Friday outside an Applebee's restaurant.

Altoona police said the shooting happened just before 11 p.m. in the Applebee's parking lot in the 3700 block of Eighth Street Southwest following reports of a domestic situation, though the circumstances leading up to the shooting weren't immediately clear.


"It got scary realizing what was going on, especially because I have friends that work in there," said Amanda Bevins, who lives near the shooting scene. "I was scared for them."

When officers arrived at the scene, they found Chekesha Clark, of Des Moines, had suffered a gunshot wound. The suspected gunman, identified as 30-year-old Kalen Burgess, fled the scene, authorities said.

The two were in a relationship and share a child together, Altoona police Sgt. Alyssa Wilson said. The child was not at the scene.

About two hours after the shooting, Des Moines police found Burgess dead of what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

"We were over at the Walmart coming out, and we saw three or four police officers flying down the road," said Jordan Cox, who witnessed the chaotic scene as it unfolded. "We had no idea what was going on. We thought it was just like a robbery or a fight. That doesn't happen around here at all."

Law enforcement officials said there was no threat to the public.

"Prayers to the family," Cox said. "It's terrible that something like this would happen. It's unimaginable, and it's just crazy that something like this would happen."

"You don't feel safe anymore," Bevin added.

The shooting is being investigated by the Altoona Police Department, the Des Moines Police Department, the Polk County Sheriff's Office, the Polk County Attorney's Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the state medical examiner's office. The Pleasant Hill Police Department assisted in the investigation.