Man found shot to death in Cedar Rapids park, second fatal shooting in 24 hours

Man killed Thursday was charged in 2020 assault of man found dead Friday

Jan. 28, 2022 10:52 am, Updated: Jan. 28, 2022 5:49 pm

A Cedar Rapids police car. (Gazette file photo)

CEDAR RAPIDS — Police are investigating a second fatal shooting in less than 24 hours in southeast Cedar Rapids, and court records show the two men who died had been involved in a fight in 2020.

The body of Kavon Iberheem Johnson, 22, was found at 7:25 a.m. Friday in a parking lot at Cedar Valley Park, 2250 Blakely Blvd. SE, south of Otis Road SE.

Johnson appeared to have died from one or more gunshot wounds, according to a city news release. Officials did not say if the shooting happened at the park.

Police also identified Cordal R. Lewis, 19, as the man found fatally shot Thursday afternoon in the 300 block of 31st Street Dr. SE.

Police found his body in the street at 2:39 p.m. with one or more gunshot wounds, according to a news release.

Both shootings appear to be targeted incidents, police said. They did not say if the incidents were related, and no suspects have been arrested.

Lewis and two other men were charged with assaulting Johnson on June 17, 2020. Lewis pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily injury, a serious misdemeanor, and served time in the Linn County Jail.

Christian Emedi and Marshawn Jeffries also were charged in the assault of Johnson.

Emedi and Jeffries were sentenced Friday in the June 18, 2020, murder of Malik Sheets.