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Cedar Rapids man pleads to lesser charges in 2023 fatal shooting in car
Paris Diamond faces up to 25 years under recommendation
Aug. 2, 2024 3:58 pm, Updated: Aug. 5, 2024 7:46 am
CEDAR RAPIDS — A Cedar Rapids man who fatally shot another man during an argument over a drug deal in 2023 pleaded to lesser charges Friday in Linn County District Court.
Paris Diamond, 23, originally charged with first-degree murder, pleaded instead to charges of voluntary manslaughter, intimidation with a dangerous weapon and going armed with intent. His other charge of first-degree robbery will be dismissed at sentencing.
Diamond previously was set to go to trial Aug. 13 before deciding to plead Friday.
Diamond, during the plea, admitted to intentionally shooting Mohamed Tawfik, 22, as a result of a “sudden, violent and irresistible passion caused serious provocation” on Jan. 8, 2023. He and Tawfik were in an argument over the drug deal, and Diamond shot him twice inside the vehicle. Diamond also admitted to being armed and having a specific intent to cause injury.
Tawfik’s parents attended the hearing Friday.
Assistant Linn County Attorney Jordan Schier said this case evolved over time as authorities got more information and evidence that showed the shooting happened during an argument but that no robbery was involved, as investigators initially believed.
Schier said the facts of the case justify the lesser charges.
Schier and the defense both will recommend consecutive sentences on two 10-year sentences and a five-year sentence for a total of 25 years in prison, in accordance with the plea agreement. Diamond will sentenced Nov. 8.
Charges of first-degree murder and first-degree robbery for another man, Jeremiah Coop, 23, who was accused of being a lookout for Diamond, will be dismissed Monday, Schier said.
Coop, Diamond’s cousin, happened to be “in the wrong place at the wrong time” and wasn’t involved in this incident, Schier said.
According to a criminal complaint, Tawfik had been texting Diamond just before they planned to meet at Eagle’s Point Apartments at 5504 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, where Diamond would buy drugs from Tawfik.
A witness at the scene told police that Tawfik and another man had been shouting at each other, and the other man approached Tawfik’s vehicle before Tawfik attempted to drive away, and he drove off the road in the 5600 block of Kirkwood Blvd. SW.
Police found an “SS” emblem that appeared to have fallen off a car in the area where the shooter was believed to have parked before the incident. Diamond had a 2008 Chevrolet Impala SS registered in his name. When police found the vehicle at the address where it was registered, the SS emblem was missing on one side.
Officers obtained a search warrant at the address and they said they found a Taurus G3 9 mm pistol that matched two shell casings that were found inside Tawfik’s car.
There was also a large amount of marijuana in a backpack in Tawfik’s car, the complaint stated.
Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com
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