Cedar Rapids murder trial to start 5 years after killing

Background

CEDAR RAPIDS — Police responded May 21, 2020, to a burglary at a southwest Cedar Rapids apartment and found the resident shot in his left leg and right hand.

Bobby Jimmerson told police several people kicked in his apartment door and demanded money, according to court documents. One of the intruders then shot him.

Officers, during the investigation, found three shell casings at Jimmerson’s apartment in the 300 block of Jacolyn Drive SW.

Two days later, on May 22, 2020, police went to 508 B Ave. NW for a welfare check on Daniel Spangler, 69. He was found dead on the kitchen floor, according to a criminal complaint. Spangler died of a gunshot injury to his chest.

During the investigation, officers found a bullet hole through the first-floor kitchen window of Spangler’s home. They also found a palm print on the window, which they believed might lead to a suspect.

Shell casings found at Jimmerson’s apartment and Spangler’s house showed they were fired from the same firearm.

The analysis and comparison of the shell casings and the palm print led them to one suspect — Damontie Lee Haggstrom-Wells, 22, of Cedar Rapids, who was charged in 2023.

What’s happened since

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A witness come forward who identified Haggstrom-Wells to police as shooting both Jimmerson and Spangler.

Officers also found surveillance video from a residence across the street from Spangler’s home, showing four individuals approaching his home in the early morning of May 21, 2020. The witness identified Haggstrom-Wells as one of the four.

After nearly two years of investigation, police were ready to make an arrest, after consulting with the Linn County Attorney’s Office. They had no concern about finding Haggstrom-Wells because he already was in jail on another charge.

Haggstrom-Wells had been arrested in December 2020 for another burglary that happened just two days before Jimmerson and Spangler were shot, and at a home nearby — at 416 Jacolyn Dr. SW, on May 19, 2020.

Haggstrom-Wells was charged with first-degree burglary and accused of forcibly entering that apartment, along with other suspects, and assaulting Mark Postel, according to a criminal complaint. He punched Postel multiple times in the head and face. Postal was admitted to the hospital for his injuries, the complaint stated.

DNA evidence and fingerprints collected from the scene matched Haggstrom-Wells, who also admitted to participating in the burglary, according to court documents.

In June 2021, Haggstrom-Wells pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree burglary and was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the Postal burglary.

Haggstrom-Wells was charged in March 2023 for first-degree murder and first-degree attempted burglary of Spangler and the attempted murder of Jimmerson, as well as first-degree burglary and going armed with intent.

Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks said this case may have taken longer to investigate because police had to wait for firearms and other testing, as do many investigations involving shootings. The charges also may have been delayed until after the witness came forward.

Evidence showed others were with Haggstrom-Wells during the burglaries, but no others were charged, Maybanks said.

According to court documents, Haggstrom-Wells changed lawyers, which caused a delay in the trial; and then a prosecution witness wouldn’t be available for a trial date.

Haggstrom-Wells trial is now set for May 13.

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