Mother asks parole board for second time not to release her son’s killer

The mother of a 22-year-old man who was fatally shot on Iowa City’s Ped Mall in 2017 asked the Iowa Board of Parole panel Tuesday if serving five years is enough time for a man who killed her son and seriously injured two others.

Shafona Jones, mother of Kaleek Jones, during a parole hearing for Lamar Wilson, 30, that she never wanted Wilson to serve life because “nobody deserves that,” but she did expect him to be “held accountable” for his actions.

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Wilson shot her son, a father of two, in the back and then “hunted” down two others and seriously injured them — all unarmed, she said. Wilson then ran away and police had to search the area to arrest him.

Jones asked the three-member panel if they would feel safe living next door to Wilson and if they are willing to take responsibility for his actions if he’s released.

The mother said she didn’t think serving five years of his 24-year sentence was enough and she doesn’t think he is sorry.

Johnson County Attorney Rachel Zimmermann Smith submitted a letter to the board, asking them to consider Wilson’s victims and the community.

“He endangered the lives of hundreds of people that night (on the pedestrian mall) and we believe he will continue to pose such a danger if released,” Zimmermann Smith said in her statement.

However, after asking Wilson several questions and discussing it among themselves, the panel agreed to grant Wilson work release but keep him under supervision, moving him into a residential correctional facility — halfway house — such as the Hinzman Center or Lary Nelson Center in Cedar Rapids.

The board also didn’t give Wilson an early discharge at this point. His tentative discharge date is July 23, 2028.

The board suggested Wilson receive more rehabilitation programming, have limited access to the internet and he is banned from entering bars while on work release.

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Wilson, originally charged with first-degree murder, was convicted in 2018 of lesser charges — voluntary manslaughter, intimidation with a dangerous weapon and two counts of assault with intent to commit serious injury.

According to trial testimony, Jones was unarmed, along with two others who were shot — Xavier Hicks and his cousin, D’Andre Hicks. Wilson claimed immunity under Iowa’s stand-your-ground defense, which was rejected by a judge.

Previous board review

In the last board review in 2022, Wilson wasn’t truthful with the board about a job he claimed he had lined up for possible work release and other details of the deadly shooting incident.

The board had initially granted work release in November 2021, but then learned the Iowa Department of Corrections, which recommended it, misunderstood Wilson was sentenced to 24 years and had only served four. Officials thought he was sentenced to 12 years and he had served almost half of his time.

The board then reversed it decision and moved him to “minimum live out” — living quarters at prison with less security restrictions and more privileges — along with GPS monitoring.

Tuesday’s parole hearing

Wilson initially tried to minimize his participation in the shootings on Aug. 27, 2017 when the board asked him to tell them about the crime.

He said his cousin, Daquan Jefferson, known as “Cutthroat,” had died and they were out celebrating his life on the Pedestrian Mall. A “group from Cedar Rapids” was having a dispute with Cutthroat over his disrespectful song about “some girl killed years earlier” — Latasha Roundtree, 19, of Cedar Rapids, who was murdered in 2012. He didn’t know her but “was guilty by association,” he said.

Wilson said the Cedar Rapids group approached his group but he only knew Kaleek Jones from the rival group. He said he saw one of them pull out a gun and he started shooting “out of fear.”

During his trial testimony, he admitted to having two guns and a permit to carry, but he never said anyone from the rival group pointed a weapon at him before he fired his gun.

Wilson said he “wished” he hadn’t reacted and just left. He had no intent of hurting anyone but hadn’t been in a situation like this before.

However, Shafona Jones pointed out in her statement that Wilson had been charged in Chicago with murder for killing someone and after being acquitted and released from jail, only months later, Wilson fatally shot her son and was back in jail.

One of the board members asked him about the Chicago shooting and Wilson said it was a case of “mistaken identity” and he was acquitted.

Wilson told the board he learned “so much” while in prison. He gained painting skills and life skills, such as how to budget money and other things that he can teach his 12-year-old son.

Wilson also said he now has a work ethic and has set goals for himself after he’s discharged. He plans to find stable employment with good pay, build his credit score to someday buy a home and car, and wants to attend his son’s sporting events.

He passed the HISET exam to receive his high school equivalency diploma in 2019. He also has participated in apprenticeship programs and would like to acquire his barber license someday.

Wilson also said he understands how Shafona Jones feels about him.

“All I can do is apologize,” Wilson said. “I’m not the same person. I think about Kaleek every day. I’m sorry.”

Another board member said she wanted to acknowledge the trauma to the victim’s family and knows no matter how much time Wilson spends in prison won’t replace Kaleek Jones.

Shafona Jones, after hearing, said she thought the decision was a mistake and she hopes it doesn’t harm another family.

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