“Cedar Rapids Police Investigator Testifies in Kazius Childress Trial: Victim Identified as Cordal Lewis in Fatal Shooting”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : CEDAR RAPIDS — In a dramatic turn of events, a police investigator revealed on Friday that Kazius Childress, the defendant in a murder trial, admitted to being present at the house where 19-year-old Cordal Lewis was fatally shot in January 2022. However, Childress identified another man as the shooter, the same man he is accused of killing one day later.

During his trial at the Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids, Childress, 22, initially denied being at 309 31st Street Dr. SE on January 27, 2022, when Lewis was shot outside the home while attempting to flee from the assailant. Childress claimed that he and Lewis were friends but that he hadn’t seen him since a week before his death. Moreover, he repeatedly denied ever being at the house, according to Cedar Rapids Police Investigator Sarah Lacina.

However, Pierra Baugh, 34, and her girlfriend, Qiuinyana Jones, 24, who are also charged in Lewis’ fatal shooting, informed the police that Childress was indeed present that day. Despite their statements, Childress continued to deny his involvement. It was only after Lacina informed him of a video showing him at a gas station with Baugh and Jones before the fatal shooting that Childress eventually admitted to being at the 31st Street Dr. SE house, where Baugh resided at the time.

Childress is facing charges of first-degree murder and going armed with intent. The trial, which began on Tuesday, is expected to conclude with the prosecution’s case on Monday. According to testimony given on Wednesday, Lewis was running away from Childress when the latter fired 11 shots, hitting Lewis multiple times in the back. The bullets penetrated Lewis’ sternum and went through his heart. His lifeless body was discovered in the 300 block of 31st Street Dr. SE.

Childress and others allegedly robbed Lewis of his money and some jewelry before the shooting. In his statement to Lacina, Childress claimed that he was with Kavon Johnson, the man he is accused of killing on January 28, 2022. Baugh and Jones picked them up in a tan Chevrolet Impala with the intention of going to Jones’ house. However, they ended up at the 309 31st Street Dr. SE residence. Johnson left with two other women in an SUV to pick up Lewis, while Childress and Baugh remained on the front steps of the house.

Childress told Lacina that Johnson asked to see Lewis’ gun, and Childress handed over a 9 mm pistol. Johnson then robbed Lewis, instructing him to empty his pockets for money and taking the chain necklaces he was wearing. Childress claimed that the homeowner, Clee Barney, repeatedly demanded that they leave. When they went outside, Childress said Johnson shot Lewis as he and Baugh stood on the front steps. Childress saw Lewis collapse to the ground but was unable to enter the house as Barney denied him entry. Childress then entered the Impala with Baugh and Jones, while Johnson got into the SUV. Childress informed Lacina that before they drove away, Baugh took the gun from Johnson and concealed it in a bag of dog food inside the house. The gun was later discovered in a box in the basement, according to testimony.

During the trial, Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks questioned Lacina about Childress’ claims that Lewis was making threats to Johnson or that Johnson shot Lewis in self-defense. Lacina stated that Childress did not mention any threats or acts of aggression by Lewis. When questioned by Childress’ defense attorney Adrian Haughton, Lacina confirmed that Childress did not appear fearful during their conversation. Haughton then suggested that someone involved in a murder may not be forthcoming with the truth, to which Lacina responded that it would depend on their role in the incident and whether they had done something wrong.

In other testimonies, Victor Murillo, a retired Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation criminalist, discussed the 9 shell casings found at the crime scene. The casings exhibited similar markings, suggesting that they were fired from the same gun, the 9 mm pistol recovered at the scene. Murillo identified three casings that matched the gun under microscopic examination, although not all of them were identified due to their similar markings. Additionally, Thaddeus Paiser, a Cedar Rapids police crime scene investigator, testified that two firearms were found at the house — the 9 mm murder weapon discovered in the basement and another handgun found in Baugh’s room.

The murder weapon did not yield any fingerprints, which Paiser attributed to the grip and slide surfaces being unsuitable for latent prints. He explained that a smooth surface was necessary to obtain a clear print.

As the trial continues, the prosecution is expected to present its closing arguments on Monday. Childress faces severe charges, and the outcome of the trial will determine his fate.

Contact:
Trish Mehaffey
Phone: (319) 398-8318
Email: trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com.