CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – The Marion teen charged in the 2023 fatal shooting of a teen in Cedar Rapids accepted a plea agreement just days before his case was set to go to trial. Baynon Berry, of Marion, was arrested in April 2023, in connection with the shooting death of 16-year-old Michael McCune. The shooting happened at around 11:42 a.m. on Feb. 18, 2023, in the 1600 block of F Avenue NW. Berry was charged with first-degree murder in the case. He was also arrested on outstanding warrants for conspiracy to commit a forcible felony, going armed with intent and probation violation. Under the plea agreement, Berry pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of Murder in the Second Degree. Two other charges against him were dismissed. The case was set to go to trial today. Berry accepted the plea agreement last Friday. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for April 28. Two other people, Dante Irvin and Tramontez Lockett, were also arrested for their alleged involvement in the shooting. Both were charged with first degree murder. Lockett’s case is set to go to trial in February. Irvin took a plea deal in June 2023.
MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (KCCI/KCRG) – Three people have been arrested in connection with a credit card fraud investigation in Marshalltown. Police say they’ve arrested three out-of-state suspects. Alieski Perez Hernandez, Yohannis Bacardi Bague and Oscar Rodriguez Alcaraz are all facing numerous charges ranging from misdemeanor to felony. Police say they found a credit card skimmer at a Casey’s in Marshalltown in late December. Around 30 people reported fraud on their credit cards. Police say the suspects used the stolen info at Walmart and Git-N-Go. Investigators said they were able to find surveillance footage that led them to the suspects. The investigating remains ongoing, and police say they expect more arrests to be made. Anyone with information regarding this case can contact the Marshalltown Police Department at 641-754-5725.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – The Cedar Rapids Police Department says a juvenile male had to be taken to the hospital after a shots fired incident Friday afternoon. Police say officers were called to the 4100-block of Center Point Road NE at 4:07 p.m. Friday after a juvenile male reported being injured by gunfire. The juvenile was taken to a local hospital for injuries that are considered non-life-threatening injuries. A vehicle belonging to another person was also hit, causing damage. CRPD says preliminary findings suggest the incident was targeted. The incident is under investigation. Police are asking for any witnesses to come forward. They’re also asking for anyone with video or photos from the area at the time of the shooting to contact CRPD at 319-286-5491.
WATERLOO, Iowa (KCRG) – Yesterday was the last day on the job for 112 John Deere employees in eastern Iowa, according to Iowa Workforce Development’s WARN Notifications. This round of layoffs is at the Waterloo Works facility, which manufactures some of John Deere’s larger pieces of farming equipment. The company announced the layoffs on December 3, citing a low demand for products and challenging market conditions. These layoffs come several days after 80 John Deere employees were laid off in Davenport. Since the start of 2024, more than 1,700 John Deere employees in Iowa have lost their jobs, with most happening in Waterloo.
