Nery Morales: Iowa man who fatally shot mother-of-two over 'stupid' lawnmower dispute to serve 20 years in prison
POLK COUNTY, IOWA: An Iowa man, who fatally shot his neighbor in 2021 over a repossessed lawnmower dispute has been sentenced to at least 20 years in prison. Nery Arnoldo Lopez Morales, 52, who shot the woman with a shotgun on September 21, 2021, was sentenced last Thursday, April 20.
Valerie Burton, the mother of the shooting victim Amber Marie Burton said that she understood that the motive behind the murder is among the stupidest she has ever heard of. "I understand Amber may have taken a lawnmower or some tools from you, and yes, that would make me angry, and that would be wrong of her if that happened, but this is one of the most stupid reasons I have ever heard to shoot someone," said Valerie, reported Law and Crime.
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Who was Amber Burton?
Amber, 42, was a nurse who "worked with the elderly." She "loved her patients," and also "enjoyed spending time with her children and family," said her family. Valerie said that her only daughter "worked long hours" to help others and also to support her family. Amber leaves behind her two children.
What are the charges against Morales?
Initially, Morales was charged with first-degree murder after he fatally shot Amber in the chest, and according to the court documents, she had "re-possessed" a lawnmower she sold. Morale still owed the victim money for the lawn tractor.
As per the complaint, "The 911 caller told dispatch that she could hear her next-door neighbor screaming and described what sounded to her like a struggle occurring. The 911 caller then told dispatchers that the neighbor just stopped screaming all of the sudden. The 911 caller believed her neighbor to be in trouble."
"Officers were sent to the above address and found the victim deceased on the couch with obvious traumatic injury to the upper torso," the complaint added. Surveillance footage showed the defendant pulling up his red GMC pickup truck to the victim's residence before he killed her. Witnesses later identified Morales as the person they saw at the crime scene. "The defendant owns a red GMC pickup truck quad cab with chrome wheels and a chrome toolbox in the bed of the truck," stated the complaint.
Morales later pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including intimidation with a dangerous weapon, first-degree burglary, assault while participating in a felony, and voluntary manslaughter, according to the Polk County Attorney’s Office.