Second shooting death this week under investigation

CEDAR RAPIDS - Cedar Rapids police are investigating the shooting death of a man believed to be 32 years old, the second fatal shooting in the city this week.

Police have not identified the victim, though they think they know who he is.

'He has been taken to the medical examiner's office for an autopsy,” Police Chief Wayne Jerman said. 'We hope to have the preliminary results of the autopsy and then confirm his identification so we can identify the next of kin.”

The killing marks the fourth homicide - the second one this week - and the 76th shooting or shots fired incident in the city this year.

Police were called to a report of a disturbance with possible gunfire in the 1000 block of G Avenue NW at 8:07 p.m. Thursday. Officers found a man suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital and died while in surgery, police said.

There have been no arrests but police were pursuing multiple leads, Jerman said. Police have said the shooting was not random, but Jerman said he could not elaborate on the open investigation.

'There was a confrontation,” he said. 'There was the victim and the shooter. We think it's safe to say there were multiple persons present.”

While Jerman said police can't say if the victim was engaged in any illegal activity, investigators believe there were people present who 'may have past criminal involvement.”

Jerman said that, based on his experience in law enforcement, violent acts in which the victim was targeted are often accompanied by risky or illegal behavior.

'I want to promote to the public, this community, that Cedar Rapids still is a safe city, a safe community,” he said. 'People should feel free and safe to go about their every day, lawful and legal activities.”

Police are also investigating the shooting death this week of 15-year-old Aaron Richardson. Police said Aaron was shot in the 1600 block of Park Avenue Sunday night by 14-year-old Robert Humbles. Police said Aaron was targeted by Robert, but have not disclosed a motive. Humbles has been charged with first-degree murder. A hearing will likely take place next week to determine whether the Kennedy High School freshman will be tried as an adult.

Jerman said Thursday night's shooting is not related to that homicide.