POWESHIEK COUNTY, Iowa — A Cedar Rapids man has been charged with murder after police discovered a body with multiple gunshot wounds in his car on I-80 Tuesday morning, according to the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and Poweshiek County court documents.
The Iowa State Patrol responded near mile marker 187 around 8:25 a.m. Tuesday, where a vehicle was stalled on the side of the road.
Troopers encountered 23-year-old Jihad Gasaway who told troopers his car needed a jumpstart. Gasaway told law enforcement that he had a gun with him and handed it over.
Officials found 26-year-old Kemp Xavier Sherrod Harriel slumped over the passenger seat and "concealed underneath clothing items", according to Iowa DCI. Harriel's body had sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
Troopers called for medical services, but Harriel was pronounced dead at the scene. Troopers claim Gasaway did not alert the responding troopers that the passenger was dying or dead.
Investigators searched the vehicle and determined the shooting occurred inside the car. In addition, the DCI crime lab determined the bullets found in the car were from Gasaway's gun.
The Iowa State Medical Examiner's Office ruled Harriel's cause of death a homicide.
When investigators asked Gasaway what happened to Harriel, Gasaway allegedly said, "We got into it."
Gasaway is charged with the following:
Poweshiek County officials said there is no current danger to the public.
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