Cedar Rapids, IA WM, 34 shot to death 2017; negro PLEADS GUILTY

[voiceofreason]

https://kwwl.com/news/top-stories/20...rapids-murder/

Arrest made in 2017 Cedar Rapids murder
April 3, 2019

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KWWL) — A 19-year-old man is behind bars after being charged in a November 2017 homicide.


Leland Harris was found murdered on Nov. 22, 2017, in a Cedar Rapids alley

On November 22, 2017, Cedar Rapids police found 34-year-old Leland Harris dead in an alley in the 500 block of 10th Street SW. It was later determined he was shot and killed.

Until now, officials hadn’t arrested anyone for his murder.



In a release from CRPD, it said 19-year-old James Stephan Phillips, of Cedar Rapids, was charged with murder in the first degree.

Phillips was also charged with first-degree theft, conspiracy to commit a forcible felony and going armed with intent.

[voiceofreason]

https://whoradio.iheart.com/content/...pids-homicide/

Second man charged in 2017 Cedar Rapids homicide
Oct 9, 2019


CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa- Cedar Rapids have identified a second suspect in the murder of a man in November 2017. Police say 42-year-old Lloyd Koger junior has been charged with First Degree Murder in the death of 34-year-old Leland Harris. Koger is also charged with Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon, Conspiracy to Commit a Forcible Felony, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Accessory After the Fact, and Driving While Barred.

Koger is currently in custody on unrelated, federal charges.

Nineteen-year-old James Phillips of Cedar Rapids was charged with murder in April of this year, as well as theft and conspiracy to commit a Forcible Felony, and Going Armed with Intent.

On November 22, 2017 at 7:24 a.m., police officers were dispatched to the alley in the 500 block of 10th Street SW where Harris was found. Harris had sustained fatal traumatic injuries. The Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the cause of death was gunshot wounds. The Medical Examiner's Office determined the victim likely died late November 21, 2017.

[Arheel's Uncle]

21-year-old faces up to 50 years for fatally shooting Cedar Rapids man, dumping body in alley

Pleaded to second-degree murder



James Phillips, 21, watches as his attorney, James Elges (left), reads a document during a plea hearing at the Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021. Phillips pleaded guilty to the charge of second-degree murder in fatal shooting of Leland Harris in 2017. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)



CEDAR RAPIDS — A 21-year-old man who fatally shot a man and dumped his body in an alley in 2017 won’t face life in prison because he pleaded Tuesday to a lesser charge.
James S. Phillips, initially charged with first-degree murder, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in Linn County District Court. During the plea hearing, he admitted to shooting and killing Leland Harris, 34, of Cedar Rapids, on Nov. 21, 2017, in the 500 block of 10th Street SW.
He also admitted to acting with malice aforethought — an intent to kill, which is required for second-degree murder.
Phillips faces up to 50 years in prison. His other charges — conspiracy to commit a forcible felony, first-degree theft and going armed with intent — will be dismissed at sentencing.
He won’t have to serve the normal mandatory minimum of 17 1/2 years before being eligible for parole because he was 17 at the time of the shooting.
Sixth Judicial District Judge Mary Chicchelly told Phillips that, as part of the plea agreement, the 50 years will run consecutively to his third-degree sexual abuse conviction of a 14-year-old girl in a separate case, for a total of up to 60 years.
A criminal complaint showed Phillips shot Harris from the back seat of a car in 2017. The first shot killed Harris, but Phillips fired two more shots, striking Harris, after pushing him out of a vehicle, the complaint stated.

There is no information in the court records whether Harris was in the front seat or the back seat with Phillips at the time.
After killing Harris, Phillips took his cellphone, wallet and cash, according to the complaint.
Witnesses told police Phillips was the shooter and the only person in the vehicle with a gun, the complaint stated.
Prosecutors haven’t provided a motive for the shooting and have not said if Phillips knew Harris. More information likely will be revealed during sentencing.
Harris’ death remained unsolved until Phillips was arrested and charged in the sexual abuse case.
About five months after Phillips was charged, a second suspect, Lloyd Koger, 44, of Cedar Rapids, was charged in Harris’ death.
Koger is accused of aiding and abetting Phillips in killing Harris by driving the vehicle where Harris was shot, and also supplying the firearm to Phillips, the complaint stated.
He is charged with first-degree murder, intimidation with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to commit a forcible felony, accessory after the fact and felon in possession of a firearm.
Koger’s trial is set for April 12.
At sentencing, Phillips also will be ordered to pay $150,000 in victim restitution to Harris’ estate or heirs.
Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com

[Whitebear]

Cedar Rapids man pleads guilty to second degree murder in 2017 shooting

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) - A Cedar Rapids man is pleading guilty to second degree murder for shooting and killing another man in 2017.

James Phillips had been charged with first degree murder, but court documents say he later agreed to a plea on lesser charges.

He now faces up to 50 years in prison. His sentencing is set for May 10th.

Police say Phillips shot and killed Leland Harris in November 2017.

Phillips later dumped his body in an alley in the 500 block of Tenth Street southwest.

Police didn’t arrest Phillips until April 2019.