116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Second man faces attempted murder charge in November shooting in Cedar Rapids
UPDATE: Jury finds guilty of lesser charge
Ernest Gaston in a jury trial in May 2022 was found guilty of assault with intent to cause serious injury, an aggravated misdemeanor; and accessory after the fact, a simple misdemeanor. He was sentenced to two years of prison, which was suspended, and two years probation.
CEDAR RAPIDS — A second man faces an attempted murder charge stemming from a Nov. 2 shooting in northwest Cedar Rapids.
Ernest Gaston, 42, of Cedar Rapids, also faces charges of intimidation with a dangerous weapon and accessory after the fact.
The criminal complaint accuses Gaston of aiding and abetting Tyrell Gaston, 18, of Cedar Rapids, in attempting to cause the death of Cornelius Gaston in the 800 block of E Avenue NW. Charging documents did not say if the two Gastons were related.
According to the complaint, Cornelius Gaston was dropping off Nikolas Palmer at his residence at 12:30 p.m. when a vehicle driven by Ernest and Tyrell Gaston pulled up and stopped.
Ernest told Tyrell to kill Cornelius, a relative of theirs, and Tyrell fired at Cornelius Gaston and Palmer, the complaint said.
One of the men said he heard Ernest Gaston yell, “Kill his a--” before Tyrell Gaston got out of the vehicle and opened fire, the complaint said.
Tyrell Gaston, 18, was charged last month with two counts of attempted murder, intimidation with a dangerous weapon and going armed with intent.
Investigators found nine shell casings at the scene, and a bullet hole in the victim’s car, according to a criminal complaint.
The maximum sentence for those convicted of attempted murder is 25 years in prison.
Earlier case
In September, Tyrell Gaston was sentenced to three years’ probation and given a deferred judgment for his role in a drug robbery that ended in the death of his cousin, Andrew Gaston, 18, on Jan. 24, 2020.
In granting the deferred judgment, the judge cited Tyrell Gaston’s successful completion of probation, his graduation from high school and other changes he had made to his life.
During the plea hearing, Tyrell Gaston admitted to planning a marijuana robbery with his cousin.
Witnesses told investigators the two had contacted Kyler Carson, 17, and “lured” him to an address to rob him. Carson, when attacked, pulled a gun and shot Andrew Gaston, who died at the scene, a parking lot at 3217 Agin Ct. NE.
Carson faces voluntary manslaughter and other charges in that fatal shooting.
Comments: (319) 398-8255; gage.miskimen@thegazette.com
Ernest Gaston
Tyrell Gaston
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