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FD man charged with first-degree murder

Police: Lewil fired bullet that killed 18-year-old woman

The 18-year-old woman who was shot early Sunday morning died from her injuries on Monday, while the man accused of the shooting has now been charged with first-degree murder, according to the Fort Dodge Police Department.

The victim, Jlynn Beason, of Fort Dodge, was shot while she was inside a vehicle near the 400 block of South 14th Street, according to police. The shooting was reported at about 2 a.m. Sunday. No other injuries were reported.

Beason was taken by private vehicle to UnityPoint Health – Trinity Regional Medical Center. She was later transferred to a Des Moines hospital.

Criminal complaints allege that Denharrio K. Lewil, 18, of Fort Dodge, fired a semi-automatic pistol from another vehicle. He fired the weapon multiple times at someone in the middle of the road. Beason was wounded by at least one gunshot.

On Sunday, Lewil was charged with attempted murder, a class B felony.

He made his initial appearance in Webster County Magistrate Court on Monday morning.

After Beason died Monday afternoon, Lewil now faces a first-degree murder charge, which is a class A felony.

Lewil is expected to make his initial appearance for that charge on Wednesday.

The Fort Dodge Police Department is continuing to investigate this incident and encourage anyone with information to contact law enforcement. The Fort Dodge Police Department has been assisted in this investigation by the Webster County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Webster County Attorney’s Office.

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