Cedar Rapids Homicide and Shooting Under Investigation

[UPDATE 2/25]: KCRG reports that the family of Katrina Brinson, the woman stabbed to death at the Rodeway Inn in Cedar Rapids, says that it's a case of domestic assault. The report states that the relationship between Brinson and States, who share six children, had been violent for more than a year. Brinson's sister told KCRG that her sister checked into the Rodeway Inn because she was "scared to go home". States showed up an hour later with a knife.

[UPDATE 2/24 8:20 a.m.]: According to Iowa News Now, the suspect in the deadly stabbing has been identified as 39-year-old Arnell States of Cedar Rapids. States died Tuesday as a result of "gunshot wounds he suffered while fleeing the scene." The name of the officer who shot States is "not being released until after the officer is interviewed by Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation."

States is accused of stabbing Katrina Brinson on February 20 at the Rodeway Inn in SW Cedar Rapids. Iowa News Now reports that "States and Brinson were both arrested and charged for domestic abuse - assault with injury" the day before the motel stabbing incident, according to court documents.

The other woman at the Rodeway Inn that suffered stab wounds was released from the hospital.

[Original story]: The Iowa Department of Public Safety issued a release stating that there was an officer-involved shooting at the Rodeway Inn in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, February 20.

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The release states that a report came in at 1:46 a.m. regarding a disturbance at the Roadway Inn in Cedar Rapids. A uniformed Cedar Rapids police officer responded to the call at 4011 16th Ave SW. When the officer arrived inside the motel, there were two adult females with "apparent knife wounds". The women directed the officer to a man running from the hotel. The officer then pursued and shot the man. He was transported to a local hospital where his injuries are not known.

As for the women, both were transported to a local hospital where one passed away. Although there are a lot of questions left unanswered, the report states that "there is a known link between the man shot and the female victims." The circumstances around the incidents are being investigated.

The Cedar Rapids Police Department is investigating the woman’s death as a homicide. Other organizations are investigating the circumstances of the officer-involved shooting per the CRPD's request. The officer who fired the shots at the man has been placed on "paid administrative leave, per departmental policy."

The woman who died has been identified as 34-year-old Katrina L. Brinson of Cedar Rapids. was one of two women stabbed there. An unnamed 32-year-old woman was injured but has been released from the hospital.

We will continue to update the story as more information becomes available.