On May 10, 2023, 17-year-old Cristian C.J. Upah of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was killed after a planned sale of vape cartridges turned violent. Upah, a junior at Linn-Mar High School described as kind to younger kids and animals, met an acquaintance from school in the 3500 block of Oakland Road NE. The meeting had been arranged via Snapchat with someone using the alias Jackson, later identified as 17-year-old Keyun McGowan.

When Upah hesitated, McGowan threatened Upah’s girlfriend. Upah struggled with McGowan to protect her; the fight moved outside the vehicle and McGowan fired, hitting Upah in the abdomen. Upah was taken to a hospital and died that night. A cellphone left at the scene contained the Snapchat conversation arranging the meeting, witnesses placed McGowan at the scene, and McGowan reportedly confessed to a friend that he shot Upah.

McGowan was taken into custody on May 23, 2023, charged with first-degree murder and two counts of first-degree robbery, and held on a $1 million cash-only bond. Did anyone who knew Cristian or witnessed that night see or hear anything that could add detail to what happened?