Names released in Cedar Rapids homicide

CEDAR RAPIDS - Cedar Rapids police have identified the two people shot inside a Cedar Rapids home Saturday night.

Public safety spokesmen Greg Buelow said Kenneth L. Everett, 33, and Gabriel C. Thomas, 29, were inside a bedroom at 383 17th St. SE when shots were fired into the residence around 8:24 p.m. Saturday. Police said Everett and Thomas were both hospitalized and Everett died as the result of his injuries.

Thomas suffered gunshot wounds to an 'upper extremity” and remains hospitalized, Buelow said. Her injuries are not believed to be life threatening.

Police have said they do not believe the shooting is random, but have not elaborated on a motive for the crime.

'The shooter or shooters intended to fire through that window,” Buelow said.

Buelow said multiple rounds were fired and Everett suffered several gunshot wounds. Police believe at this point that someone went up to the bedroom window and fired a gun, rather than shooting from a vehicle, Buelow said.

Police do not have a suspect description at this time. Buelow encouraged anyone with information about the crime to call police at (319) 286-5491.

'Officers are following several leads,” he said.

This is the second time in less than two weeks that police have responded to an incident at 383 17th St. SE.

On Aug. 31, a blood trail helped lead police to a man with a gun at that location - a two-story house with four two-bedroom apartments, according to the Cedar Rapids Assessor's Office - after a report of shots fired.

According to the Linn County Attorney's Office, Cedar Rapids police responded to a report of shots fired in the 1700 block of Bever Avenue SE. Police said they found a trail of blood leading to the 17th Street SE residence.

Police entered the residence to look for victims and saw blood leading to the upper level. There, officers found Jermain T. Felts who was carrying a loaded .38 caliber pistol that was reported stolen out of Iowa City.

Felts was arrested and charged with trafficking stolen weapons.

l Comments: (319) 398-8238; lee.hermiston@thegazette.com