BURLINGTON, IOWA – An Iowa man is facing a murder charge following a fatal shooting, and as a final act, the victim allegedly identified her assailant while en route to a hospital.
According to the Burlington Police Department, officers were dispatched to the 1500 block of Agency Street at approximately 11:20 P.M. on March 7, 2026, in response to a report of a person being shot. Upon arrival, emergency responders located a female victim suffering from what appeared to be a single gunshot wound. She was immediately transported to Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center for treatment but was later pronounced deceased.
The department’s Criminal Investigation Division quickly identified 22-year-old Kaysean A. Rice of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, as the primary suspect in the case. Rice was eventually located by the Mt. Pleasant Police Department in the 2100 block of East Washington Street. At the time of his apprehension, authorities noted that Rice also had an outstanding Washington County warrant for a violation of a no-contact order.
Rice was taken into custody and transported to the Des Moines County Correctional Center. He has been formally charged with:
- Second-Degree Murder, a Class B felony
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Reckless Use of a Firearm, a Class C felony
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Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon, a Class C felony
The identity of the victim was initially withheld pending the notification of next of kin. While the investigation remained ongoing, Burlington police described the shooting as an isolated incident and stated there is no further danger to the public. Rice is currently being held at the Des Moines County Correctional Center on bond.
The Burlington Police Department later identified the victim as 19-year-old Janea Elizabeth Osier, also of Mt. Pleasant. According to the criminal complaint, Osier was able to identify Kaysean Rice (pictured at top) as the shooter before she passed away from her injuries at the hospital.
According to an obituary, “Janea graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 2023, completing her education one year early. She worked as a car detailer at J.D. Byrdyer in Burlington. Janea was the definition of a free spirit. She had a passion for traveling and riding motorcycles. She was a true animal lover, especially devoted to her dog, Nova. Janea enjoyed spending time outdoors, swimming in ponds and lakes, fishing, and embracing nature. Janea loved spending time with her family and friends; especially her best friend Aaeriona Barker. She carried the best qualities of all her family within her. Janea will be deeply missed by all who knew her.”