Police responded to shootings at the Taboo Nightclub Lounge at 415 3rd Street SE around 1:27 a.m. Sunday. Siddar Rapids Police Chief Wayne German said police were standing outside the club when a mob rushed in and fled the shooting. 911 dispatchers began receiving calls about the incident at about the same time. Police entered the club to find the 12 victims and began providing first aid to the injured. German said the evidence so far has led investigators to believe more than one gunman was involved. He later said he believed “both shooters” were men. No clear motive has been identified at this stage of the investigation, although German said police did not believe it was a “gang incident”. Police also said there was no wider threat to the general public despite the lack of arrests, calling it a “targeted incident”. The men killed were an adult man and an adult woman, according to officials. More information about their identities is hidden pending notification from family members. German said police believe all the injuries were related to the shooting, either from direct gunshot wounds or from fragments. He said there were no indications at the time that injuries had been caused by people being kicked out of the club. Police believe the perpetrators may have escaped from the scene during the initial rush of the fleeing people. There were no other incidents related to the initial shooting outside the club. Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell encouraged citizens to report suspicious or illegal activities, saying the incident did not represent the city as a whole. “At the end of the day, I think the real change will only happen when we as a city, we as citizens, refuse to play together,” O’Donnell said. Taboo hosted a bash on the “return of the Mac” of the ’90s on Saturday night, according to social media bids. Police estimate that between 100 and 150 people were inside the club at the time of the shooting. Modteets Williams, Jr., owner of the club, told KCRG-TV9 that the club “is doing everything we can to work with the police”. German said he could not recall a recent increase in service calls at the nightclub site. According to police call logs last year, at least two gun incidents and one nightclub attack were reported. However, most of the time the police visited the site it was for routine checks at the bar. Anyone with information should call Cedar Rapids Police. Information can also be provided to CrimeStoppers by calling 1-800-CS-CRIME. Copyright 2022 KCRG. All rights reserved.
