Cedar Rapids police seek leads in hotel shooting

CEDAR RAPIDS — No one has come forward to help police identify the assailant or assailants who opened fire Friday night at a birthday party at a southwest quadrant hotel, wounding six people — one of them seriously, authorities said.

About 10:30 p.m. Friday, Cedar Rapids police took a report of gunshots being fired at the Ramada by Wyndham hotel at 525 33rd Ave. SW. Officers responding found that the shooting broke out as a birthday party with disc jockeys, and dozens of guests, was being held in a hotel conference room.

Police located three people who had been shot, and all were taken to the hospital. Two had injuries that were not life-threatening, but one was taken to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics with serious wounds, authorities said.

In addition, three others were injured — including a 13-year-old boy — and taken by personal vehicles to the hospital. All suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to authorities.

“This senseless and inexcusable act is yet another example of persons in our community who make the conscious decision to use firearms illegally,” police Chief Wayne Jerman said in a statement Saturday. “Those who continue this illegal behavior need to be held responsible for their actions, prosecuted fully, and removed from our community. I want to acknowledge the heroic actions of all the responding law enforcement officers, emergency first responders, as well as medical personnel at the hospitals where the wounded were treated.”

The Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol and Marion Police Department also responded to the crime scene.

Police asked that anyone who attended the party or has information that could help identify the assailants or assailants to call the Cedar Rapids Police Department at (319) 286-5491.