On the night of Sunday, July 6, 2025, in Waterloo, Iowa, a burst of gunfire shattered the calm on Mulberry Street, leading to the tragic death of 20-year-old A'Tarion Key'won De 'Shawn Spates, a Black male from the city. The Waterloo Police Department and Waterloo Fire were dispatched to the 1600 block of Mulberry Street at approximately 10:56 PM following reports of a shooting.
Upon arrival, they discovered a female victim with a gunshot wound.
As emergency personnel tended to the injured woman, their attention was redirected to a nearby residence at 1724 Mulberry Street. Inside, they found A'Tarion Spates, who had also been shot. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. The female victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
The subsequent investigation by Waterloo Police detectives revealed a chaotic scene where multiple individuals had been firing guns from the 1724 Mulberry Street address. The investigation concluded that Spates's death was not intentional. On July 15, 2025, detectives charged a 15-year-old with the delinquent act of Involuntary Manslaughter in juvenile court in connection with the fatal shooting. Authorities have asked for the public's assistance in providing any additional information regarding the incident.
