Brandon Johnson, a 21-year-old Black man, died of a gunshot wound on March 19, 2016, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. His death followed a dispute that escalated into a street fight involving more than a dozen people in the 1100 block of Maplewood Drive NE; the same incident seriously injured 16-year-old Deaveon Gaulden.

Authorities arrested 16-year-old Kenyauta Vesey-Keith on charges of first-degree murder in Johnson’s death and attempted murder for Gaulden’s injuries. Vesey-Keith’s mother, Saresa Keith, was also arrested and charged with child endangerment, carrying weapons, and assault while using or displaying a weapon after investigators determined she had driven her son to a pre-arranged fight and allegedly used a stun gun during the altercation.

At trial Vesey-Keith’s attorneys argued he acted in self-defense, saying he retrieved a gun from a vehicle and fired during the fight to protect himself. A jury acquitted Vesey-Keith of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and related charges in October 2018, after which he was released.

If anyone witnessed the March 19, 2016 fight on Maplewood Drive NE or has information about the events that night, please share what is known.