Three charged in fatal Waterloo shooting

Waterloo Police have made three arrests in connection with a fatal weekend shooting. Officials have charged 27-year-old Christopher Spates, his 22-year-old brother Racardious, and their cousin, 27-year-old Darmount Spates, all of Waterloo, with conspiracy to commit a forcible felony. The charges result from investigation into a weekend shooting at a party that left 23-year-old Thyanna Parsons dead. Police believe the suspects drove to the east-side home where the party was taking place, and shot at the house with the intent to intimidate the partiers. Several bullets struck the house and a vehicle parked nearby. Parsons, who was inside the home, was struck by one of the bullets and later died. 18-year-old Dorondis Cooper of Waterloo was injured in the shooting and remains hospitalized. Waterloo police captain Bruce Arends says the three suspects are in the Black Hawk County jail on 100-thousand dollars bond each. Officer Arends explains the three were standing outside as they shot at party-goers outside the house, but the victim, Thyanna Parsons, was inside. Arends says the shooting started out as a way to scare the partygoers. Police investigation so far has investigators convinced the three planned to go to the Harrison street house and fire at the house and people outside the house, to intimidate them. They charged 27-year-old Christopher Spates, his 22-year-old brother Racardious, and their cousin, 27-year-old Darmount Spates, all of Waterloo, with conspiracy to commit a forcible felony, intimidation with a dangerous weapon. He explains two of the men are brothers, the other is a cousin of theirs. Investigation continues into the incident and Captain Arends can’t say whether more arrests will be made or more charges will be filed against the suspects already in custody. A second person hit in the shootings, 18-year-old Dorondis Cooper, remains hospitalized in Waterloo.