A community fundraiser will increase the reward for information leading to the suspect accused of killing a Des Moines woman.

Jayme Thomas, 19, died after being shot early morning Nov. 5 in the backseat of a vehicle in the 800 block of Redondo Way South. A 24-year-old male was also shot at the scene, but has since been treated and released.

Witnesses reported that an argument occurred between two separate groups before the shooting. Two unidentified men started passing a gun around, then fired shots into a vehicle where Thomas sat, according to police.

An Italian dinner and silent auction fundraiser, called “Justice for Jayme,” will run 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 7 at Resurrection Lutheran Church, 134 S. 206th St., Des Moines.

Event organizer Pattie Lenz hopes to raise at least $3,000 to increase the $1,000 reward currently offered by Crimestoppers.

“We wanted to up the reward and make it more attractive for people to come forward,” said Lenz, a longtime friend of the Thomas family. “The outpouring of this community has been unbelievable.”

Jayme Thomas was a 2011 graduate of Mount Rainier High School and was studying at Highline Community College to become a nurse. As a lifeguard, she taught toddlers to swim, and was heavily involved in her youth group at Resurrection Lutheran Church. Lenz said youth from the church who knew Thomas will hold a rally Nov. 30, and help serve guests at the Dec. 7 fundraiser.

“People are just hurting in this community, and her family is just devastated,” said Lenz, a SeaTac resident. “There are people out there with information that are afraid to come forward. It’s our prayer and our hope that someone does. I don’t think the family can heal until they have some kind of justice for Jayme.”

Check it out

Donations are being accepted for “Justice for Jayme,” which runs 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 7 at Resurrection Lutheran Church, 134 S. 206th St., Des Moines. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door (children 5 and under admitted free). All proceeds from this Italian dinner and silent auction will go toward a reward fund for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect responsible for the death of Jayme Thomas.

To learn more or donate, contact Pattie Lenz at (206) 351-3086. Donations can also be made at any branch of Chase Bank.

Suspect information

Des Moines police continue to investigate leads and interview witnesses, according to the department. Police are reviewing surveillance video from businesses in the Redondo area. Images of two suspect vehicles, along with a person of interest, were obtained from the Shell station in the 29600 block of Pacific Highway South. Those images were captured about 30 minutes before the shooting, according to police. (see two photos below)

• One suspect is an Asian male in his early 20s, about 5-feet-7-inches with stocky build and short or shaved hair.

• A second suspect is a black male in his early 20s, about 5-feet-8-inches tall with a medium build and short black hair.

• One suspect’s vehicle is described as a black two-door Honda Civic, manufactured in the early- to mid-1990s, with flat gray front and rear bumpers with black and chrome rims.

• A second suspect’s vehicle is described as a similar Honda Civic with black spoke rims, large chrome muffler, tinted rear windows and poor quality body work near the driver’s side wheel well.

• Another person of interest has been described as an Asian or Native American male in his early 20s, with a long ponytail, wearing an Express jacket and yellow LA hat.

Anyone with information about the case should call the Des Moines Police Department at (206) 878-3301.

Surveillance photo of suspects’ vehicles:

Surveillance photo of a person of interest: