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Mother’s pain is ‘just as bad’ as night her son was killed while delivering food in 2023
Cedar Rapids man sentenced to life in prison for fatal shooting
Apr. 22, 2025 6:09 pm, Updated: Apr. 23, 2025 7:28 am
CEDAR RAPIDS — The mother of 21-year-old Myron Snyder Jr., who was killed while making a DoorDash delivery in October 2023, said Tuesday “not everything happens for a reason” because there is no reason for this “senseless horrific and life-changing crime.”
“Time does not heal all wounds,” Alicia Rogers said, tearing up at times during her victim impact statement. “For it has been one year, six months and 17 days and the pain is just as bad as that night, if not worse.”
Rogers, who was wearing a T-shirt commemorating her son, along with other family members at the hearing, said the way Snyder was taken away from them has been “unbearable.” She hasn’t fully realized her son will never be coming home again, never walking through the door to ask what she is doing and what she is cooking.
“There is an eerily void and emptiness in our house and his presence is definitely missed,” Rogers said.
Cameron Leonard, 26, was sentenced Tuesday to a mandatory life in prison without the possibility of parole for fatally shooting Snyder, who made a delivery to Leonard’s brother, Maurice Brown on Oct. 5, 2023. Prosecutors argued the two brothers “surrounded and ambushed” Snyder over alleged past conflicts.
Leonard was convicted by a jury in March for first-degree murder, intimidation with a dangerous weapon, going armed with intent, use of a dangerous weapon in the commission of a crime, and being a person ineligible to carry a dangerous weapon.
Leonard declined to make a statement during the hearing.
Sixth Judicial District Judge Kevin McKeever said the other charges would merge with the murder charge — meaning they would run concurrently — resulting in a life sentence.
McKeever also ordered Leonard to pay $150,000 in victim restitution to Snyder’s heirs or estate in accordance with Iowa law.
Other victims’ statements
Javion Seals, in his victim impact statement said Snyder, his brother, was one of the “kindest and sweetest people” he knew.
Seals said his big brother was “deeply loved by all.” The night his brother was shot, he received many text messages from people saying how sorry they were and how “great of a person he was.”
“There were so many friends and teachers who would send flowers and more,” Seals said. “Though it was something so little, it showed we weren’t in this alone and that people truly cared for Myron.”
Seals said Snyder, who helped his little brother in sports, didn’t get to attend Seals’ first varsity basketball or football games, or see his first reception during a football game.
“I hope you all get what you deserve, Seals told Leonard, who didn’t look at the family members while they were giving their statements. “And I hope the pain you feel on a daily basis is equivalent to what we feel. May God condemn your soul.”
JaeCis Wright, Snyder’s sister, said she didn’t think she could put into words how this life-changing, traumatic event impacted her.
“I get flashbacks every single day,” Wright said. “Flashbacks of that night, flashbacks of the phone call between Myron and my mom (on that night), my mom screaming ‘My baby’s gone.’ I kept telling her that he must have dropped the phone and gotten away.”
Rogers testified at trial that Snyder called her “panicked and out of breath” the night of Oct. 5, telling her he’d gotten into a fight with someone. Rogers heard her son yelling at someone, and then she heard gunshots and he didn’t respond to her.
Wright, Snyder’s sister, said she was in denial, even after they got to the scene and went past the yellow tape to see her brother’s body lying on the “cold ground.” She said she thought they would get him to the hospital and save him.
Even now, she doesn’t talk about her brother in past tense because it doesn’t seem real. When she went to her college orientation at Kirkwood Community College, she talked about Snyder as if he was waiting for her in the car.
Wright said she doesn’t think she’ll ever accept her brother not being around for her life.
Trial testimony
Leonard testified he shot Snyder several times in defense of himself and his brother, Maurice Brown, in the parking lot of Brown's apartment complex at 3690 Sherman St. NE, on Oct. 5, 2023. Leonard claimed Brown had past conflicts with Snyder from high school.
Leonard also admitted he and his brother had a previous conflict with Snyder because Snyder wanted to date their sister and they were against it.
The prosecution argued Snyder returned fire in self-defense after Brown fired three times at the front of Snyder’s car, as Snyder tried to get away after being confronted and fighting with Brown.
Police investigators showed jurors 3D laser scanner videos and numerous diagrams to recreate what happened. The scanner videos depicted the actions and movements of the men with color-coded initials above the heads of the blurry or white shadows shown on the surveillance video.
Sgt. Sean Kinkead, who was a crime scene investigator, said after Brown fired three shots at the front of Snyder’s car, he walked around to the driver’s side and exchanged fire with Snyder while Snyder remained in the car. Leonard was standing at the front of the car, with his gun drawn.
A third man, Pierre Morrow, appeared with Brown and Leonard — his stepsons. Morrow, also convicted in this case, remained near them in the parking lot around Snyder’s car when shots were fired. The video showed he drove his car through the crime scene to another parking space, then continued to stand nearby and watch.
After Brown was struck and fell to the ground, Leonard moved over to near the driver’s side and started firing. Snyder fired back, Kinkead testified.
Leonard started moving toward the rear of the car. He fired multiple times through the back windshield, striking Snyder’s car seat. One bullet penetrated the seat and went into Snyder’s back, which a medical examiner testified could have been a fatal injury.
At that point, Snyder got out of the car and went to the ground, shooting from around the bumper or trunk up at Leonard, who was still behind the car. Leonard returned shots and then crouched down to reload his gun.
The video showed Leonard going around to front of car and then he was seen on the ground on the driver’s side, feet away from Brown and Snyder.
Both Brown and Snyder were killed in the shooting. Leonard was injured.
Snyder had six gunshot wounds, Brown had seven, according to a medical examiner, and Leonard testified he had six injuries.
Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com
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