On the morning of October 30, 2019, a confrontation rooted in a love triangle culminated in the shooting of Reginald L. Ward Jr., a 27-year-old Black/African American man from Moline, Illinois. The incident unfolded at a Kum & Go convenience store on First Avenue East in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Ward was with his girlfriend, Kiara Morrise, when they were confronted by her ex-boyfriend, Todd Ricky Jenkins.
Investigators later determined that Jenkins had driven from Davenport to Cedar Rapids to confront Ward. An argument broke out between the two men, and at approximately 7:52 a.m., Jenkins shot Ward. After the shooting, a silver vehicle was seen leaving the area.
Emergency services were called to the scene and found Reginald L. Ward Jr. with life-threatening gunshot wounds. He was rushed to UnityPoint Health-St. Luke's Hospital for treatment. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Ward succumbed to his injuries and passed away. The autopsy revealed that a single 9mm bullet had struck him in the right thigh, severing his femoral artery and causing fatal blood loss. Authorities immediately began an investigation, stating that they believed the shooting was not a random act and that Ward had been specifically targeted.
The investigation into Reginald L. Ward Jr.'s death led police to identify Todd Ricky Jenkins as the primary suspect. Surveillance footage and witness testimony were crucial in identifying Jenkins as the shooter. For months, Jenkins remained at large. In March 2020, the U.S. Marshals Service-Great Lakes Regional Task Force located him at a hotel in Aurora, Illinois. Jenkins was apprehended while attempting to escape through a second-story window and was subsequently charged with first-degree murder and going armed with intent. Kiara Morrise was also later arrested and charged as an accessory after the fact for her alleged role in the events.
Todd Jenkins faced a bench trial where his defense claimed he acted in self-defense. However, the prosecution presented evidence of premeditation, including Jenkins's firearm purchases and GPS data. In September 2021, a judge found Jenkins guilty of first-degree murder and going armed with intent. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Jenkins is currently serving his sentence at the Iowa State Penitentiary.
