In the spring of 2020, the life of 21-year-old Kejuan Winters, a Black / African American male, was tragically cut short in Iowa City, Iowa. On the morning of April 20th, police were called to a residence on Broadway Street following a report of a shooting. Inside, they found Winters suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries, and his death was quickly classified as a homicide.
Investigators assured the public that they did not believe the shooting was a random act of violence.
The investigation that followed uncovered a plot to rob Winters, who was known to sell marijuana and sometimes kept large amounts of cash and the substance in his apartment. This plan was orchestrated by individuals known to him. An acquaintance, Durojaiye Rosa, who also lived in the apartment and sold marijuana for Winters, had a falling out with him and conspired with Reginald Demorrow Little to commit the robbery. A third individual, Patrick Bland, was enlisted to carry out the act.
On that fateful April morning, the plan was set into motion. Little drove Bland to Winters's apartment, fully aware that Bland was armed with a gun. While surveilling the residence, Little sent a text message to Rosa inquiring about the whereabouts of Winters's girlfriend after she left the apartment. Bland then entered the apartment and shot Kejuan Winters.
The ensuing investigation led to the arrests of those involved. Patrick Bland was identified as the shooter. Both Durojaiye Rosa and Reginald Demorrow Little were charged in connection with the murder. Court proceedings revealed that Rosa and Bland entered into plea agreements for their roles in the felony murder. Reginald Demorrow Little was tried and found guilty of first-degree murder under a theory of felony murder for his part in aiding and abetting the robbery that led to Winters's death. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison.
