Cedar Rapids police officers involved in shooting identified

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation has identified two Cedar Rapids police officers who fatally shot a man on Aug. 30.

Sgt. Bryson Garringer and Investigator Christopher Christy have been placed on paid administrative leave while the Iowa DCI investigates the shooting of William Isaac Rich, which happened just before 1 a.m. on Aug. 30.

The officers had responded to a domestic disturbance that morning at the Inn Circle at 5560 6th Street SW. According to a news release, Rich brandished a weapon while the officers tried to detain him, and both officers shot. Rich died from the shooting. Neither officer was injured.

Family and friends of Rich held a protest Tuesday evening in front of the Linn County Courthouse. Protesters shouted things like “Hands up, don’t shoot,” “Release the body” and “No justice, no peace.”

Some of the protesters spoke with Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell who was nearby at the McGrath Amphitheatre for a different event.

“As hard as it may be for all of us right now, we have to respect the process,” O’Donnell told The Gazette after speaking with the protesters, noting she respected their right to protest.

“The only thing we can guarantee as a city is we will do everything we can do to help in the investigation.”

Another protest is planned for Thursday at 5 p.m. in front of the Cedar Rapids Police Department. An event page on Facebook, created by the nonprofit organization Advocates for Social Justice, says the family is demanding that the Cedar Rapids Police Department and the Iowa DCI release the body camera footage of the officers involved in the shooting.

“The family wants transparency and deserves to know what happened to William, their twenty-two year old son and brother,” the Facebook event information reads.

“The family and the Advocates for Social Justice will protest until the bodycam footage is released.”

Comments: (319) 398-8328; emily.andersen@thegazette.com