Kazius Childress murder trial ends before defense starts with plea to lesser charge

CEDAR RAPIDS — As the prosecution was set to wrap up its case against Kazius Childress for first-degree murder Monday, Childress decided over the weekend to accept a plea in the 2022 fatal shooting of Cordal Lewis.

Childress, 22, pleaded to second-degree murder and faces up to 50 years in prison, instead of the possible life sentence he faced if convicted at trial. He must serve a mandatory 35 years before being eligible for parole.

During the plea, Childress admitted to firing multiple times at Lewis and that he acted with malice and intended to kill him. He also admitted that Lewis didn’t have a gun and he fired at Lewis as Lewis was running away from him.

According to trial testimony last week, Lewis was running away from Childress, who fired 11 times, striking Lewis multiple times in the back. Bullets hit Lewis’ sternum and went through his heart. Police found nine shell casings at the scene.

Lewis was found dead Jan. 27, 2022 in the 300 block of 31st Street Dr. SE. Childress and others first robbed Lewis of money and some jewelry he was wearing.

Cedar Rapids Police Investigator Sarah Lacina testified Friday that Childress told them how Lewis was killed and who robbed him, but identified the shooter as Kavon I. Johnson, 22, the other man Childress is accused of fatally shooting the next day, Jan. 28, 2022.

During the plea, Childress made an insulting hand gesture to the Lewis family who were in the courtroom and they said he also winked at them. The family was upset and reported the incident to the Linn County Attorney’s Office following the hearing.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Christopher Bruns, during the plea, said there was no basis to support a defense of justification, which Childress planned to use — claiming the shooting was in self-defense or in defense of others.

“We are confident that Mr. Childress entering a guilty plea to murder in the second degree was the most optimal outcome in this case,” Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks said after the plea. “Our thoughts and our hearts are with the family of Cordal Lewis today who have waited for this closure for nearly two years.

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During the trial, a video showed Childress shooting multiple times at Lewis as the ran away from him. Childress and others had planned to rob Lewis, who they believed would have money on him that day.

Johnson and two women, not identified or charged in the case, picked up Lewis that day and brought him over to the house at 309 31st Street Dr. SE, according to testimony.

Two guns were found at the 309 address — one belonged to Pierra Baugh, 34, who is also charged in Lewis robbery and shooting and the other, identified as the murder weapon, was found in a box in the basement.

Johnson was found dead at 7:25 a.m. Jan. 28, 2022, in the parking lot of Cedar Valley Park, 2250 Blakely Blvd. SE, according to a criminal complaint.

During the investigation, police found surveillance video that showed Johnson had been at the Kum & Go at 1420 Mount Vernon Rd. SE in a vehicle with Childress within minutes of another video and audio clip that showed a vehicle matching the same description entering Cedar Valley Park and captured multiple gunshots being fired.

Childress admitted being at the scene when Johnson was shot, according to the complaint. He was also identified by a witness as the person who fatally shot Johnson.

Childress is charged with first-degree murder and going armed with intent in Johnson’s death. His trial is set for Feb. 20, but it may be reset in light of Monday’s plea.

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