By Jeff Reinitz
Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
WATERLOO, Iowa — A Wednesday night shooting may be related to an attack that happened hours earlier at a shopping mall, police said.
Waterloo officers are investigating possible links between the shooting of 18-year-old Tondrell Gary, who showed up at the Allen Hospital emergency room with a gunshot wound to his shoulder blade, and the beating of 20-year-old Keith Devon Hayes at Crossroads Center.
Authorities said an argument broke out between friends of both injured men at the hospital. The disturbance was broken up hospital security.
No arrests have been made in either incident.
According to Waterloo police, several people attacked Hayes, of 943 Conger St., at the mall shortly after 7 p.m. He suffered punches and kicks to the head and was found unconscious near the carousel on the lower floor. Paramedics with Waterloo Fire Rescue took him to Allen Hospital for treatment.
Then at about 9:05 p.m., Gary, of 914 Mobile St., was sitting in a vehicle on Florence Street when someone in a passing vehicle opened fire, striking Gary, police said.
Neighbors a block over in the 400 block of Cherry Street heard the gunfire and called police.
Gary was rushed to Allen Hospital by private vehicle. Police said his injuries aren’t considered life threatening.