The Cedar Rapids Police Department has announced charges have been filed in the shooting death of a 15-year-old girl on the city's southwest side.

Just before 6:20 a.m. on the morning of Tuesday, July 20, 2021, Cedar Rapids Police responded to a report of a one-vehicle accident at Hawthorne Hills Apartments. The apartment complex is located in the 2200 block of C Street S.W. Officers arrived on the scene that morning and found a deceased 15-year-old female behind the wheel of a vehicle that was badly damaged. As we reported at the time, she had been shot.

The following day, Cedar Rapids police identified the victim as Tyliyah L. Whitis of Peoria, Illinois, formerly of Cedar Rapids. KCRG reported last summer that Whitis was staying in town with her older sister. According to her obituary, Whitis was a straight-A student and AAU basketball player.

In today's media release, it was revealed that an autopsy by the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner determined that Whitis had died of a gunshot wound to the chest. Her death was ruled a homicide.

Following an investigation, 19-year-old Marshawn R. Jackson (photo below) was charged with 1st Degree Murder in Whitis' death. He's also been charged with Intimidation with a Weapon, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Jackson was already in the Linn County Jail on other charges when the new charges were filed against him. The Cedar Rapids Police Department says the investigation in the case continues.

Get our free mobile app
Linn County Jail
Linn County Jail
loading...

LOOK: Things from the year you were born that don't exist anymore

The iconic (and at times silly) toys, technologies, and electronics have been usurped since their grand entrance, either by advances in technology or breakthroughs in common sense. See how many things on this list trigger childhood memories—and which ones were here and gone so fast you missed them entirely.

LOOK: What major laws were passed the year you were born?

Data for this list was acquired from trusted online sources and news outlets. Read on to discover what major law was passed the year you were born and learn its name, the vote count (where relevant), and its impact and significance.

More From 98.1 KHAK