Police: Kirkwood Shooting Due to Drug Confrontation, Resulted in Paralysis for One Victim

The bullet that struck 21-year-old Shannon Gaskins in last month’s near Kirkwood Community College sliced her spinal cord, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down, according to new information from the Gazette.

The Cedar Rapids resident’s sister, Amanda Brown, told the Gazette that Gaskins now has a 2 percent chance of walking again.

According to newly released documents, told police the confrontation started when two men walked into her apartment and asked where they were holding "the weed." They fired on her and the second victim, 22-year-old Alexander White, after Gaskins said she didn’t have any.

The original incident took place last April 20, when Cedar Rapids Police responded to the scene of the shooting at 311 Kirkwood Court SW to find Gaskins and White with gunshot wounds to the torso. They were sent to Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids, where Gaskins is still in treatment.

So far, three have been charged in connection with the shooting, including Chicago resident and 24-year-old , who was shot in the altercation, , 25, of Des Moines and Shantres Johnson, 21, of Cedar Rapids. All three have been charged with two counts each of attempted murder and willful injury causing serious injury, in addition to one count of first-degree robbery. Also, all three are currently in Linn County Jail.

A benefit has been established in Shannon Gaskins name. Donations can be made at a Veridian Credit Union.