CEDAR RAPIDS — A Cedar Rapids man was sentenced last week to 25 years in prison for fatally shooting another man during an argument over a drug deal in 2023.

Paris Michael DiamondThe 23-year-old, who was initially charged with first-degree murder, pleaded in Linn County District Court in August to a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter, intimidation with a dangerous weapon and taking a weapon with intent.

In handing down the sentence last Friday, Sixth Judicial District Judge Valerie Clay imposed consecutive sentences of up to 25 years on all convictions.

Diamond’s other charge of first-degree robbery was dismissed Friday as part of the plea agreement.

Clay also ordered Diamond to pay $150,000 in damages to the victim’s heirs, Mohammad Tawfik.

In his defense in August, Diamond admitted that he deliberately shot 22-year-old Tevfik on January 8, 2023, as a result of “sudden, violent and irresistible passion caused by serious provocation”. They were arguing with Tevfik over drugs. After the deal, Diamond shot him twice inside the vehicle. Diamond also admitted being armed and intending to cause injury.

Linn County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Jordan Schier previously said the case evolved over time as authorities obtained more information and evidence that showed the shooting occurred during an argument, but that there was no robbery as investigators initially believed.

Schier said the facts of the case justified the premeditated manslaughter charge.

First-degree murder and first-degree robbery charges against another man, Jeremiah CooperThe 23-year-old man accused of acting as a lookout for Diamond was fired in August.

After Diamond’s plea hearing, Schier said Diamond’s cousin Coop “was in the wrong place at the wrong time” and was not involved.

According to the criminal complaint, Tawfik was at 5504 Kirkwood Blvd. He was texting Diamond just before they planned to meet at the Eagle’s Point Apartments at . SW where Diamond would buy drugs from Tawfik.

An eyewitness at the scene told police that Tevfik and another man were yelling at each other, and that the other man approached Tevfik’s vehicle before he attempted to drive away. Tawfik ran off the road in the 5600 block of Kirkwood Avenue after he was shot. S.W.

Police found an “SS” emblem that appeared to have fallen off a car in the area where the attacker was thought to have parked before the incident. Diamond had a 2008 Chevrolet Impala SS registered in his name. When the police found the vehicle at its registered address, they found that the SS emblem was missing on one side.

Police officers who issued a search warrant at the address said they found a Taurus G3 9 mm pistol that matched the two casings found in Tawfik’s car.

The complaint also stated that a large amount of marijuana was found in Tevfik’s backpack in his car.

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