A Linn County judge sentenced Kaleek Lewis to life in prison for the first-degree murder of Dedric Arnold.

The August verdict is the jury's answer to the self-defense account Lewis gave from the stand. In Iowa, first-degree murder means life without parole, so Friday's hearing imposed that term and a consecutive sentence for Morris Gray, the second man, who was not shot. The remaining counts run at the same time as those two.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Chad Kepros sentenced Kaleek Lewis on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, in Linn County District Court in Cedar Rapids, The Gazette reported. The sentence is life in prison without parole for first-degree murder in the death of Dedric Arnold. The Gazette reported the rest of the order as up to 25 years for attempted murder, five years for going armed with intent, two years each for use of a dangerous weapon and reckless use of a firearm, one year for carrying dangerous weapons, and up to one year for possession of marijuana. Kepros ran the murder and attempted-murder sentences one after the other because there are two victims, and ran the other counts at the same time as those two, The Gazette reported. KCRG reported that the judge added 25 years for attempted murder and described that added time as mostly symbolic, and still important because there is another victim.

A jury found Lewis guilty in August. KCRG reported the verdict on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, and listed guilty findings for first-degree murder, attempted murder, going armed with intent, use of a weapon in the commission of a crime, reckless use of a firearm resulting in property damage, being a person ineligible to carry dangerous weapons, and possession of a controlled substance. KCRG reported that Lewis testified the shooting was self-defense, that he fired warning shots at Arnold and Morris Gray, and that he did not intend to strike Arnold in the neck. In its sentencing story, KCRG reported that Lewis said he feared for his life, fired two warning shots, and hit Arnold in the neck.

The Gazette reported that the jury convicted Lewis of fatally shooting Arnold, 24, and of trying to kill Morris Gray, 21, both of Cedar Rapids. The paper reported they were unarmed when they walked onto Lewis's driveway in the 100 block of 27th Street NE on Sept. 10, 2025, to ask about missing wallets. According to trial testimony as The Gazette described it, Lewis was armed, went outside when the two men walked up the driveway, and fired four to six shots. Gray was not struck. Arnold was fatally wounded when one bullet hit his neck. Lewis was 23, The Gazette reported.

In court Friday, Danielle Arnold, Dedric's mother, told the judge that losing her son "stopped my world from spinning," The Gazette reported. She said, "When the doctor came into the room I knew he was gone," and "One decision. One life and a family changed forever." The Gazette also reported that she told the court, "You can make sure he dies in prison," and "You can show him the only coward in this room is him." KCRG reported a statement from Danielle Arnold asking the judge to make sure Lewis never has the privilege of being a father and never goes free. The Gazette identified her as Dedric's mother. It reported that Kylee Bradshaw, the mother of Arnold's three-year-old daughter, also gave a victim-impact statement about their daughter growing up without her father.