In the late evening of September 6, 2015, the life of 15-year-old Aaron K. Richardson was tragically cut short in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Known to his friends as "Arro," the Black / African American male had moved to Iowa from the Chicago area about two years prior to his death. He was known for his love of basketball, his artistic talents, and his humorous nature.
On that Sunday night, at approximately 11:14 p.m., police were called to the 300 block of 16th Street SE.
Aaron, who had been at a friend's house in the area, was found suffering from a gunshot wound to his abdomen. After being shot, he ran to the nearby home of a friend and collapsed into the arms of the friend's mother. He was rushed to St. Luke's Hospital, where he died shortly after surgery. Investigators believed the shooting was not a random act of violence, but rather that Aaron was targeted. His death was thought to be possibly connected to an ongoing rivalry between two groups that had been involved in other shootings.
The investigation into Aaron's death quickly led to a suspect. A few days later, a 14-year-old freshman at Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School, Robert Humbles, was arrested and charged with Murder in the First Degree. Humbles was taken to the police station by a family member. He was subsequently held at the Linn County Juvenile Detention Center. Ultimately, Robert Humbles Jr. was sentenced to five years of probation for voluntary manslaughter.
The community mourned the loss of a young life filled with promise. Family, friends, and neighbors gathered for a candlelight vigil to remember Aaron. His mother, Loise Brown, expressed her profound grief, stating that her son did not deserve to die. Friends remembered him as a goofy and kindhearted person who was always smiling and making others laugh. His death marked the third homicide in Cedar Rapids that year, and he was the youngest victim.
