String of summer homicides in Cedar Rapids continued with Sunday's death

Jeff Raasch

Jun. 27, 2011 11:35 am

Dexter Meeks' death Sunday morning marks the sixth straight year for a homicide in June or July in Cedar Rapids.

Meeks, 22, known to friends and family as “Big Ham,” was shot inside an apartment building at 211 15th St. SE, police said. It is the second homicide of 2011 in Cedar Rapids, and continues a deadly trend in the summer months.

Police have not released details about what led up to Sunday's homicide. Just before 3 a.m., officers responded within seconds of a report of multiple gunshots, according to archived police radio traffic.

“Get me an ambulance, and get me additional units,” an officer said over the radio when he found Meeks.

Officers set up a perimeter around the scene, but have not announced any arrests in the case. Officer Melissa Henderson, a police spokeswoman, said investigators were “working on a few leads” Monday morning.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Linn County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-CS-CRIME. Anonymous tips are accepted, and rewards are possible.

Sunday's shooting took place across the street from the scene of the last homicide in Cedar Rapids. Police said cab driver Cathy Stickley, 54, was stabbed to death after dropping off a fare. Jonathan D. Mitchell is charged with first-degree murder and is awaiting trial.

In the streak of summer homicides, three of the six victims have been 22 years old. Two of the incidents have resulted in convictions, while the other four remain unsolved.

Meeks was killed on the 2-year anniversary of the shooting death of Dominque Mosby, 22, at the Cedarwood Hills apartment complex in northeast Cedar Rapids. Police ruled the death a homicide. No arrests have been made in the case.