Lang
11/23/21
One of two suspects in the murder of a University of Iowa student would only spend five years behind bars after witnesses in the case admitted to lying about his involvement.
That’s according to a plea deal announced Tuesday in Linn County Court. 18-year-old Marshawn Jeffries of Cedar Rapids agreed to plead guilty to charges of Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon and Obstructing Prosecution. Jeffries and 18-year-old Christian Emedi of Cedar Rapids were each initially charged with 1st Degree Murder and Obstructing Prosecution in the shooting death of 20-year-old Malik Sheets. If convicted on the original charges, they would have faced mandatory life sentences.
Police were dispatched to 1058 Regent Street NE in Cedar Rapids on June 18th of last year 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. Witnesses initially told police that Jeffries fired several more shots into Sheets’ body. Those witnesses have since recanted their stories, saying Jeffries fired a gun into a crowd of people, but not specifically at Sheets.
Jeffries and Emedi fled to North Liberty to shower and change clothes before heading to Illinois, where they were later arrested. Both Emedi and Jeffries were juveniles at the time of Sheets’ murder.
Emedi pleaded guilty to 2nd Degree Murder. His plea deal calls for a 15-year sentence with an added 35 years suspended. His sentencing is set for January 28th. Jeffries’ sentencing date has not yet been set.
Sheets was a psychology major at the UI at the time of his death.