Man accused of attempted murder in Cedar Rapids shooting

Mar. 31, 2023 4:39 pm, Updated: Mar. 31, 2023 5:57 pm

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Cedar Rapids man accused of shooting his wife in February now faces an attempted murder charge.

James Melvin Sanford Jr., 65, also is charged with willful injury-causing serious injury, domestic assault and use of a dangerous weapon in the commission of a crime in the Feb. 16 shooting of Trena Sanford, according to a Cedar Rapids police news release.

The criminal complaint states that Sanford shot his wife several times with a .38-caliber revolver with the intent to kill her. He called 911 and admitted he had shot her and then shot himself, according to the criminal complaint.

Trena Sanford sustained serious injuries.

Police responded to the shooting just after 4:30 a.m. on J Street SW, where they found two individuals with gunshot wounds. Both were taken to the hospital.

Sanford is being held in the Linn County Jail on a $100,000 cash-only bond. A no-contact order has been filed on behalf of his wife.

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