Police investigate shots fired report in southeast Cedar Rapids

Cedar Rapids police are investigating the latest shots fired incident in the city.

Public safety spokesman Greg Buelow said police were still actively working the scene of a shots fired in the area of Fifth Avenue anda 15th Street SE. Police responded to the call around 5:54 p.m.

No injuries have been reported and police are still investigating the scope of the property damage, Buelow said.

Instances of gun violence and shots fired have surged in the city in 2014. At a press conference in late April, Chief Wayne Jerman said police had responded to 28 shots fired incidents this year. During that same time period in 2013, there were only 11 such incidents.

'The uptick is something that greatly concerns me,' Jerman said during the April press conference. 'The message is quite simple and I'll be blunt: The violence needs to stop.'

The shooting incidents have occurred throughout the city and have resulted in numerous deaths, including Ingrid Livingston; her mother, Linda Huber; LuElla Koopman; Quintrell Perkins and Sierrah Simmons. Livingston and Huber were killed by Livingston's estranged husband. Koopman was killed by her estranged husband, as well. Both men took their own lives after killing their wives.

Jerman said in April that many of the shootings and shots fired incidents appear to be related and have possibly been committed by the same group of people.

'We believe that many, if not all, of these shootings are related,' Jerman said at the time. 'But, we won't know for sure until these cases are solved and those responsible are identified, apprehended and brought to justice.'

It is unknown at this time if Monday night's incident is related to any previous shots fired incidents.