Lang
11/13/21
One of two suspects in the murder of a University of Iowa student has reached a plea deal.
18-year-old Christian Emedi of Cedar Rapids pleaded guilty on Friday to a 2nd Degree Murder charge. He and 18-year-old Marshawn Jeffries, also of Cedar Rapids, were each initially charged with 1st Degree Murder and Obstructing Prosecution in the shooting death of 20-year-old Malik Sheets on June 18th of last year.
Police say on that date officers were dispatched to 1058 Regent Street NE in Cedar Rapids regarding a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, officers found Sheets on the floor of the living room suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to UnityPoint Health-St. Luke’s Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Based on witness accounts, investigators determined Emedi initially fired several shots at Sheets during an argument. After Sheets fell to the floor, Jeffries fired several more shots into his body. The defendants all fled the scene after the shooting and changed clothes and showered in North Liberty before fleeing to Illinois, where they were later arrested.
Court records indicate Jeffries has also reached a plea deal, but details have not been released. A plea hearing is set for November 23rd.
Emedi’s plea deal calls for a 15-year sentence with 35 years suspended.
Both Emedi and Jeffries were juveniles at the time of Sheets’ murder.
Sheets was a psychology major at the UI at the time of his death.