Grieving mother hopes killer will ‘burn in hell’ for taking her ‘sweet boy’

CEDAR RAPIDS — The mother of Cordal Lewis, who was found fatally shot on a street in southeast Cedar Rapids Jan. 27, 2022, addressed her son’s killer as “Kazius the murderer” during his sentencing Friday.

“Our lives were put on hold and changed forever,” Pamela Lovette, wearing a shirt that had her son’s image, said in her victim impact statement.

She apologized to the court before she called Kazius Childress an expletive and a “coward,” as she chastised him for stealing from her “sweet boy” and being disrespectful to her family during his plea in January when he made insulting hand gestures at the family.

“You’re going way for a very long time,” Lovette said. “We get the last word. I hope you burn in hell.”

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Childress, 23, originally charged with first-degree murder, pleaded to second-degree murder, in the middle of his trial in January.

During the plea, Childress admitted to firing multiple times at Lewis, 19, 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.

Childress also stole money and some jewelry that Lewis was wearing before shooting him.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Christopher Bruns sentenced Childress to up to 50 years in prison with a mandatory 35 years that must be served before he is eligible for parole.

Childress declined to make a statement.

Todd Weimer, his lawyer, said Childress was advised not to make a statement because of his other pending murder case. Weimer said Childress has expressed remorse and had taken responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty.

“This was an act done in cold blood,” Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks said during sentencing. “It was senseless and it wasn’t justified. Because of the defendant’s actions, a young man lost his life, a family lost a loved one and a son lost his father.”

Maybanks: Two shootings are ‘intertwined’

Maybanks, after the hearing, told The Gazette this sentence will make it a “certainty” that Childress remains in prison for the “greater part of his life.”

Maybanks said the prosecution has always considered this case and the fatal shooting of Kavon Johnson, with which Childress is also charged, to be “intertwined.”

“The impact of the resolution of this case will be important to the outcome of the other case against Mr. Childress and it’s important to note that he is presumed innocent of that charge until and unless he is proven guilty,” Maybanks said.

The prosecution could possibly use Childress’ guilty plea in this case against him in the other trial.

Other family statements

In other victim statements, Lewis’ sister, Cordejha Lewis told Childress she hated him and prays that he “doesn’t get a moment of peace,” as she, her family and Cordal’s son continue to “live and thrive.”

She said she is grateful to the judge and justice system for giving them peace as they try to heal, but she hopes Childress never gets out. Having a bad childhood, which Childress’ lawyer mentioned, doesn’t excuse this, she said. Others that have experienced bad things don’t commit “atrocities.”

Corey Lewis, Cordal’s father, who also was wearing a shirt with his son’s image and holding a large photo of him, said his son was “shot down” by someone he knew. He never thought that would happen.

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Corey Lewis, tearing up during his statement, said his son was just about to be a father when he was killed and now he has to take on that role.

“I don’t understand why he (Childress) did this,” Corey Lewis said. “I want to let people know my son was a good person. He was trying to be a good son, brother, uncle and father.”

Second murder trial set to begin in September

According to trial testimony, 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.

Childress admitted to police 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, according to testimony.

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

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In the other fatal shooting, 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 also was 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 Sept. 24.

Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com