Man arrested after fatal shooting at Davenport funeral home

DAVENPORT, Iowa (KWQC) - According to Davenport police, a man has died following a shooting Saturday morning.

The victim has been identified as 26-year-old Jeramie Shorter of Davenport.

Police said the call came in at approximately 11:30 a.m., when the Scott County Emergency Communication Center started receiving 911 calls about a reported disturbance at Weerts Funeral Home on Jersey Ridge Road.

Police said callers reported a man in the lot with a handgun, and reported that one person had been shot.

According to Davenport police, callers provided a vehicle description of the suspect as he fled the scene. Shorter was transported to the hospital by a private vehicle. He later died of his injuries.

For Davenport resident Heather Burge-Henderson, she said it concerns her to see these things happen at events like this.

“Not being able to go anywhere, do anything, scared to let your children out the house, walk down the street, it is, it is just frustrating on so many levels,” Burge-Henderson said.

Police said an officer responding to the call noticed the suspect vehicle and attempted to stop it. The suspect fled from the officer and reached high speeds through residential areas. Police said the officer lost sight of the vehicle after several blocks.

At approximately 1:55 p.m., police said the suspect was located in the area of W. 15th St. and fled from officers. He was pursued on a foot, and taken into custody a short while later.

According to an arrest affidavit for the suspect, he threw a bag containing a firearm over the fence as he was attempting to get away from officers.

Davenport Police said the suspect has been identified as 24-year-old Nuemonei Laster.

Laster has been charged with Murder in the 1st Degree, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Eluding, and Interference with Official Acts with a Weapon.

According to an arrest affidavit, “The defendant willfully, deliberately, and with premeditation shot the victim, causing the victim’s death. The defendant admitted post Miranda to shooting the victim.”

The victim, according to police, was attending a visitation at the funeral home for his son. An obituary on the funeral home’s page said today’s services were for an 8-year-old boy who died following his fight with cancer.

For Heather Burge-Henderson, it disheartens her to no end. “For us to not even be able to mourn someone or to even celebrate a death and have another one taken, it’s just so frustrating,” Burge-Henderson said.

The incident is under investigation by Davenport Police detectives. Police said no additional information was immediately available.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Davenport Police Department at 563 326-6125, submit an anonymous tip via the “P3 Tips” mobile app or submit a tip online at “qccrimestoppers.com”.

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