CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Officials have released the name of the 20-year-old who was shot and killed in a shooting with Cedar Rapids police on Monday. Officials say a preliminary autopsy has been completed on Michael Griffin of Cedar Rapids. They say the results of the autopsy may not be available for release for several weeks. A search warrant affidavit for Griffin’s cell phone gives new insight in the events leading up to the incident. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said the incident started just before 6:30 a.m. Monday when police responded to a report of a drive-by shooting in the 400 block of Longwood Drive NE. Officials say that the driver, now identified as Griffin, had an interaction with occupants of a residence in that block where he outwardly displayed an AR-15-style rifle at them. He was reportedly convinced to leave before gunfire began striking the residence. After officers found the suspected vehicle, a chase began. The police pursuit went down 1st Avenue near 12th Street East when officers said Griffin pointed a gun out of the window and fired at officers. The passenger reportedly got out of the vehicle at one point and was taken into custody. The passenger was later identified as a juvenile. The chase continued to Mount Vernon Road SE and 34th Street SE, where the Griffin allegedly fired more shots at officers. His vehicle reportedly went off the road in the 5600 block of Mount Vernon Road SE. Officers said that as they gave Griffin verbal commands, he fired his weapon again from inside the vehicle. That’s when five officers fired their guns at him. They later found Griffin dead at the scene. Officials have not confirmed how he died at this time. None of the officers involved in the incident were hurt. They remain on leave pending the completion of the investigation.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – Iowa City Animal Services is seeking information regarding an incident that occurred around 5:00 p.m. Monday in the area of Park Road and Lexington Avenue. Officials say a medium-sized dog with short black hair was being walked by two people, when it bit a victim as it was walking past them. The dog was accompanied by another dog that was also black-haired with some light brown around the eyes. Iowa City Animal Services is seeking the rabies vaccination status of the dog. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Iowa City Animal Services directly at 319-356-5295 or the Iowa City Police Department at 319-356-6800.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – CR Heritage, a local nonprofit dedicated to saving historic properties, is set to submit petitions against Cedar Rapids Community School District’s rezoning application for Harrison Elementary School. The rezoning would effectively allow the school district to tear down Harrison and replace it with a new building. The board first voted to tear down Harrison back in April. The plan will eventually combine students from both Madison and Harrison into a new building on the Harrison site. Save CR Heritage protested that decision at the time, and in July gathered enough signatures to get a public hearing from the district, specifically focused on the recommendation to demolish Harrison Elementary. The school board heard comments from the public but decided to move forward with the decision to replace the school. Now the nonprofit says they’ve gathered enough signatures to require a super-majority vote on the rezoning application from the City Council, hoping to prevent the district’s plan from moving forward. The City Council will review the rezoning application at this Thursday’s (Jan. 4, 2024) meeting at 3:00 p.m. in the third-floor council chambers of City Hall.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Cedar Rapids police are investigating after a man died outside of Taft Middle School. Officers were called around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday for a medical emergency. Police said they found the man unresponsive outside the school. First responders determined he was dead. There’s no word on a name, or if he’s connected to the school. In a statement sent to families, staff with the Cedar Rapids Community School District said they believe no students witnessed the incident, but they may have seen police and emergency vehicles on school grounds.
