Cedar Rapids police open homicide investigation after fatal shooting

CEDAR RAPIDS - A shooting investigation has now turned into a homicide investigation.

Cedar Rapids public safety spokesman Greg Buelow said the victim in that shooting, identified today as 28-year-old Marcus K. McCaskill of Marion, died Wednesday morning at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, where he had been since Saturday.

Cedar Rapids police were called to a shooting in the 700 block of 15th Street SE around 3 a.m. Saturday. Responding officers found McCaskill suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound.

Investigators learned that an argument started during a house party and spilled out onto the street. Police said they took reports of multiple shots being fired.

'There were a large number of people in the street and several shots were fired,” Buelow said. 'There were no other injuries reported.”

Buelow said he could not comment on what might have led to the fight or fatal shooting.

'That's part of the investigation,” he said.

Police have interviewed numerous witnesses in the investigation, but Buelow said police are seeking additional information. Anyone with information is asked to reach out to the police department or CrimeStoppers.

McCaskill's death marks the second homicide in the city this year. On Feb. 24, Cedar Rapids police responded to a home at 731 Memorial Dr. SE and found Mitchell and Sherry Haferbecker dead inside. Police later said Mitchell, who had been placed on administrative leave from his custodian job at the College Community school district, shot his wife and the family dog before taking his own life.