Hiawatha man charged with three counts of attempted murder

A Hiawatha man has been charged with three counts of attempted murder after he allegedly shot at three people who were in their vehicle at 95 E. Clark St. in Hiawatha.

According to a Linn County criminal complaint, officers reported to the scene on Monday, Sept. 17, and spoke with three witnesses who said Charles James Griffin, 22, shot at all three of them while they were in a parked car and continued to shoot at them as they fled the vehicle.

Officers recovered 20 shell casings from a .40 caliber weapon in the vicinity of the incident and noted damage to vehicles in the area.

According to the complaint, Griffin's residence was later searched by police and found an empty box for a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson handgun, which is believed by police to have been used in the shooting.

Griffin faces three counts of attempted murder, and one count of going armed with intent.

He is currently being held at the Linn County Jail.