DES MOINES, Iowa — A Des Moines man was sentenced to life in prison on Friday for the 2024 shooting of his ex-girlfriend’s parents.
Hamza Smajlovic, 25, pleaded guilty to the first-degree murder and attempted murder of Ruth and Tony Robison on October 2, 2025. On Friday, Smajlovic was sentenced to life in prison without parole, plus 25 years.
The incident occurred November 1, 2024, while Smajlovic’s ex-girlfriend and her parents, Ruth and Tony, were moving items out of Smajlovic’s home. She had broken up with Smajlovic after an October 2024 incident where he had allegedly choked her.
While moving items from the home, Smajlovic attempted to stop the Robisons before grabbing a 9 mm handgun and shooting and killing Ruth and then shooting and critically injuring Tony…