Kazius Childress told police how Cordal Lewis was killed but denied being shooter

CEDAR RAPIDS — A police investigator testified Friday that Kazius Childress admitted to being at the house where 19-year-old Cordal Lewis was fatally shot in January 2022, but Childress identified the shooter as another man, who he is also accused of killing one day later.

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Cedar Rapids Police Investigator Sarah Lacina said Kazius Childress, 22, initially denied being at 309 31st Street Dr. SE on Jan. 27, 2022 when Lewis was shot outside the home as he was running away from the shooter. Childress said he and Lewis were friends but he hadn’t seen him since a week before his death.

Childress also denied, more than once, ever being at the house, Lacina said. Pierra Baugh, 34, and her girlfriend, Qiuinyana Jones, 24 — also charged in Lewis’ fatal shooting — told police Childress was there that day but he continued to deny it, the investigator said.

When Lacina said they had a video of him at a gas station with the two women before the fatal shooting, Childress then recalled that and eventually admitted to being at the 31st Street Dr. SE house, where Baugh was living at the time.

Childress is charged with first-degree murder and going armed with intent. His trial started Tuesday and the prosecution is expected to wrap up its case Monday.

According to testimony Wednesday, 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.

Lewis was found dead in the 300 block of 31st Street Dr. SE. Childress and others first robbed Lewis of money and some jewelry he was wearing.

Childress told Lacina he was with Kavon Johnson — who he is accused of fatally shooting Jan. 28, 2022 in a separate case — when Baugh and Jones picked him up in a tan Chevrolet Impala to go to Jones’ house, but instead they went to 309 31st Street Dr. SE.

Johnson went with two other women in an SUV and they picked up Lewis. The women didn’t come into the house.

At some point, Childress said Johnson asked to see Lewis’ gun and he gave the 9 mm to Johnson. Johnson then robbed Lewis and told him to empty his pockets — for money — and took chain necklaces Lewis was wearing.

Childress said they were told repeatedly to get out by the homeowner, Clee Barney, who testified in the trial.

Lacina said when they went outside, Childress said Johnson and Lewis walked out to the grass near the driveway and he and Baugh were on the front steps. Childress said Johnson then shot Lewis and he continued to shoot as Lewis ran away.

Childress said he saw Lewis fall to the ground, so he tried to get in the house but Barney wouldn’t let him, so he got in the Impala with Baugh and Jones. Johnson got in the SUV.

Childress told Lacina that before they drove off, Baugh took the gun from Johnson and she put it in a bag of dog food in the house.

According to testimony, the gun was found in a box in the basement.

After Jones drove off, Childress said he made her go back because he wanted to check on Lewis. He got out but Jones was yelling at Childress to get back in the car or he would be left. He got in and they went to Jones’ home.

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Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks asked Lacina if Childress said Lewis was making threats to Johnson or if Johnson shot Lewis because Lewis was trying to kill him.

The defense, in its opening, said Lewis was the one being aggressive to Childress.

Lacina said no.

Attorney Adrian Haughton, who is representing Childress, asked if Childress seemed fearful. Lacina said no.

Haughton then asked if it was likely that if someone was involved in a “murder,” they may not be forthcoming?

Lacina said it depends on their role in the incident. If they did something wrong, they usually don’t tell the truth.

Shell casings from the scene may have come from one gun

In other testimony, Victor Murillo, who is now retired but was an Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation criminalist in 2022 and last year, testified about the 9 shell casings found at the scene. The spent casings all had similar markings — meaning they could have been fired by the same gun — the 9 mm found at the scene.

He identified three of the casings that matched the gun, when he viewed them microscopically. They usually don’t identify all of them if they have similar markings. He randomly selected three.

Thaddeus Paiser, Cedar Rapids police crime scene investigator, testified there were two firearms found at the house — the 9 mm pistol found in the basement, which was identified as the murder weapon, and another handgun found in Baugh’s room, lying in a laundry basket.

The murder weapon didn’t have any fingerprints, which isn’t unusual because the surface texture of a grip and even the slide aren’t “suitable” for latent prints, Paiser said. To get a good print, the surface has to be smooth.

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