Cedar Falls police confirmed that 21-year-old Jaye’mya E’shay Sudduth was shot and killed Thursday evening inside her Maplewood Drive apartment. The young woman’s death has left family and neighbors shaken in this quiet Iowa community.
Officers were called to the Park @ Nine23 Apartments just after 7:30 p.m. on February 5 after someone reported gunfire following an argument between people inside the home. Once on the scene, emergency responders found Sudduth suffering from gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the apartment.
Police took a 21-year-old man who lived at the same address into custody that night without incident. Authorities have not announced any formal charges yet, saying the investigation is ongoing and no one else is believed to be a risk to the public.
Those who knew Sudduth describe her as someone full of life, a young woman with plans and connections in the community. Now friends are left trying to make sense of a night that ended with a loss too large for words, and a neighborhood forever changed.
Investigators are interviewing witnesses and processing evidence to understand what exactly sparked the dispute that led to the tragedy. Police officials have reiterated there’s no known danger to others in Cedar Falls.
Authorities and grief counselors are urging anyone affected by the incident to reach out for support, and Cedar Falls Public Safety officials say their focus remains on gathering facts while offering help to Sudduth’s family and friends.
Neighbors at the Maplewood Drive complex report police activity late into the night as officers worked methodically through the scene. It has left a ripple of concern among residents who say they never expected such violence so close to home.
The community is bracing for updates as the investigation continues, hoping clarity and some sense of closure might come in the days ahead. Cedar Falls police ask anyone with information on the case to contact authorities.
