Cedar Rapids racked by gunfire; one dead

CEDAR RAPIDS – Iowa’s second-largest city, Cedar Rapids, has been racked by gunfire over the past two days, police say, as one person is dead and even a person on a scooter was randomly shot.

On Thursday, June 18 at 5:09 AM, the the City of Cedar Rapids’ Joint Communications Agency received a report of a fight and shots fired inside a residence in the 1000 block of Regent Street NE. Dispatchers were also advised that there was a victim who had sustained a gunshot wound.

Officers arrived on scene to find a 20-year-old male inside the residence who had sustained at least one gunshot wound to the upper body. Police officers, firefighters, and Area Ambulance Service personnel administered emergency medical care and transported the victim to UnityPoint-St. Luke’s Hospital.
Shortly thereafter, the victim was pronounced deceased at the hospital.
Based on the preliminary investigation, there appears to have been a large party inside the residence, an argument ensued, and shots were fired. The shooting appears to be a targeted incident.

There is an active, ongoing homicide investigation. The name of the victim is being withheld pending notification of family members.

Around 11:11 PM Thursday, Cedar Rapids police received multiple 911 calls of gunshots in the area of Kirkwood Parkway SW near campus. Officers spoke to witnesses and located shell casings. No injuries were reported and no property was damaged. No arrests have been made. This is an ongoing investigation and no further information is available.

Prior to that shooting incident, police officers are investigating two shooting incidents in Cedar Rapids Thursday afternoon and evening.

The first incident was reported at 5:16 PM in the 700 block of G Avenue NW. Officers arrived on scene to find property damage to approximately 6 homes in the block. Preliminary information indicates that shots were fired from a vehicle at a person or persons. Officers believe it was a targeted incident and the homes that sustained damage were not specifically targeted.

The second incident was reported at 6:40 PM at 5750 C Avenue NE. Officers arrived and located an 18-year old male victim with a gunshot wound to his lower back. The initial investigation showed that the victim and another subject were riding scooters northbound on the sidewalk, when subjects driving by in a car opened fire. The victim was transported to a local hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries.