Accused Cedar Rapids nightclub shooter charged with 10 more offenses

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Linn County prosecutor filed an amended complaint Thursday identifying more individuals investigators believe were shot by one of two defendants charged in the deadly assault this month at a downtown Cedar Rapids nightclub.

Timothy Rush, 32, of Cedar Rapids, was formally charged Thursday with 10 new charges: two counts of willful injury causing serious injury; two counts of reckless use of a firearm causing serious injury; three counts of willful injury causing bodily injury; and three counts of reckless use of a firearm causing bodily injury.

Rush previously was charged with second-degree murder, willful injury causing serious injury, intimidation with a dangerous weapon, reckless use of a firearm causing serious injury and possession of a firearm as a felon for the April 10 shooting at the Taboo Nightclub and Lounge.

According to an earlier version of the complaint, Rush fatally shot Nicole Owens, 35, his girlfriend and mother of his 1-year-old daughter, and seriously injured Marvin Cox, who was shot in the head. He then fired intentionally and indiscriminately,” with what police believe is a 9 mm handgun, into the large crowd at the club.

The amended complaint states further investigation showed Rush also shot Alazia Cotton and Makayla Stokes, causing them serious injuries, and Traniece Worley, Denise Triplett and Richard Nicksion, who suffered bodily injuries.

A total of 10 people were injured in the shooting, according to the complaint. It doesn’t include the other victims.

A surveillance video showed Rush running out of the club after the shooting and a video from earlier in the night showed Rush with a firearm, investigators said.

During a bail review hearing earlier this week, Rush’s lawyer said Rush was working security at Taboo that night, as he usually did on the weekends.

Police collected 9 mm shell casings from the area where Rush fired the gun into the crowd, according to the complaint. During a search of his home, police said they found a Hi-Point 9 mm firearm and a comparison to shell casings found at the club indicated it was the firearm used in the shootings.

Rush’s bail remains at $1.5 million cash or surety for the murder charge.

Michael Valentine 25, also was fatally shot that night.

Another suspect, Dimione Walker, 29, was arrested near Chicago on April 18 by federal marshals and is in jail there pending being extradited back to Iowa.

Walker will be formally charged when he returns to Iowa with first-degree murder, intimidation with a dangerous weapon, going armed with intent and felon in possession of a firearm. He was also wanted by Illinois authorities in connection with parole violations for possession of a weapon.

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