Gazette Daily News Podcast, May 3

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This is John McGlothlen with the Gazette digital news desk and I'm here with your update for Monday, May 3rd.

Today, we’re expecting showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 73. Winds from the south 5 to 15 mph, in the afternoon coming from the northwest. Our chance of precipitation in the Cedar Rapids area is 80%. Rainfall amounts between three quarters of an inch to an inch are possible. Tonight, showers and thunderstorms continue to be likely, mainly before 7 pm.

The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal plane crash. According to a news release, deputies were called to a plane crash Sunday at 3:52 p.m. at 250th Street and Greencastle Avenue NW in rural Tiffin. Witnesses reported seeing an airplane near the Greencastle Airport and later seeing it crash into a nearby field. The name of the pilot is being withheld until the family can be notified.

Police said a local one-time Black Lives Matter movement leader whose apartment was the site of a fatal shooting tried to deter the investigation. 19-year-old Quincy Russom was found dead at 615 S. Governor St. at the home of 20-year-old Mazin Mohamedali on Feb. 1. Police said 30 minutes transpired between the time Russom was killed and the time police were notified. In a new criminal complaint, police allege Mohamedali had specific knowledge that Sammy Hamed, 22, had murdered Russom and waited to call 911. Police said Mohamedali lied during questioning, gave false descriptions of people involved and withheld other information that would have led police to Hamed more quickly. The criminal complaint alleges Mohamedali deleted his call history and Snapchat from his phone. In a recorded conversation, Mohamedali allegedly admitted to lying to police about the homicide and who was involved so police would not find out about the origin of guns tied to the investigation, police said. Mohamedali faces one count of accessory after the fact, an aggravated misdemeanor.

The Iowa football team stopped what it was doing in Kinnick Stadium for a few minutes Saturday morning to listen to a basketball player. A recognition and farewell to Iowa’s Luka Garza was held on the Kinnick field 10 minutes before the final football practice of the spring. Garza spoke to the several thousand fans present, thanking relatives, teammates and coaches.