Teen charged in murder of Cedar Rapids man

Police have arrested a teenager in connection with the shooting death of Kevin E. Bell earlier this month.

Denum Null, 16, was arrested at 10:15 a.m. Friday at 1510 Fourth Ave. SE on suspicion of first-degree murder, police said.

It was not immediately known if that address is Null's home.

Bell, 26, of Cedar Rapids, was shot shortly after 9 p.m. Jan. 11 in Apartment K at 113 First Ave. SW. He died on Jan. 12 at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

Mike Smothers, who lives in the apartment, told The Gazette that three men broke into the apartment and asked where the PlayStation video gaming system was. He said he didn't have such a system and was convinced the suspects had come to the wrong house.

Bell was not on the apartment lease but was staying in Apartment K, neighbors said. Six other people were in the apartment when Bell was shot, police said.

One of the neighbors said she heard two gunshots. She said she saw someone who was bleeding from the head being taken away on a stretcher.

Police said Null was arrested without incident and taken to the Linn County Juvenile Detention Center.