An Iowa man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the death of his friend, which occurred in the early hours of New Year's Eve 2026, after admitting that he pointed a loaded gun at him believing it would end an argument.

The Polk County Prosecutor's Office reported that Jordan Isaac Carmi, 31, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, reckless use of a firearm and possession of a weapon by a person with a criminal record, in connection with the death of Tony Young, 30.

According to prosecutors, Carmi and Young had celebrated the arrival of the New Year at several bars in downtown Des Moines before returning to the defendant's apartment, located in the 300 block of Court Avenue.

Outside the building an argument took place between the two and several other people.

During the sentencing hearing, Carmi offered a lengthy statement about what happened. He explained that he took his gun after some people refused to leave his apartment. Once the group left, he and Young began arguing about whether they should go out and look for them.

“I thought I could end the conversation by pointing the gun at him,” he told the court. He also admitted that he was under the influence of alcohol and drugs while handling a loaded gun.

Shortly after, the gun discharged, striking Young.

“I accidentally shot my friend,” Carmi told Judge Samantha Gronewald.

The victim left a son and the accused must pay compensation

Initially, Carmi faced a charge of first-degree murder. However, the process concluded with an agreement in which he pleaded guilty to reduced charges.

In addition to the 20-year prison sentence, the court ordered him to pay $150,000 in restitution to Tony Young's estate.

The prosecution also recalled that the defendant had been convicted a decade ago in Utah for drug possession with intent to distribute.

During the hearing, Carmi expressed her regret and assured that her friend did not deserve to die.

For its part, Tony Young's obituary indicates that he was born in Canada and later moved to Iowa, where he attended high school. He was a fan of rap music, American football, and dancing, although, according to his family, what he enjoyed most was spending time with his friends and his son, Jakari, with whom he played video games and cooked.