Cedar Rapids homicide victim's name released

UPDATE: Investigators spent much of Monday reviewing surveillance video and looking for clues after the first homicide of the year in Cedar Rapids.

Raphael C. Blackwell, 22, of Cedar Rapids, was shot early Monday morning in the parking lot outside Woody's Show Club, 9395 Sixth St. SW, police said. He was transported to Mercy Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Sgt. Cristy Hamblin said Blackwell was shot once in the abdomen around 12:40 a.m. She said Blackwell ran back inside the strip club and someone inside called police.

Hamblin confirmed that investigators have “several hours” of surveillance video, but did not say if it captured the shooting. The video has not been released to the media.

“They were still combing through it,” Hamblin said.

Police have not released any details about what might have led up to the incident or any vehicles that might have been involved.

“It does not appear the public is in any harm,” Hamblin said. “But we don't know what the dispute would have been over.”

Police are still seeking witnesses in the case, especially anyone in the area who saw persons or vehicles leaving the area at the time of the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to call Linn County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-CS-CRIME (272-7463) or send a text message to CRIMES (274637), with “5227? in the message or subject line, along with the tip. Rewards are possible for information that leads to an arrest.