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Burlington man shot while attending party for shooting victim

A Burlington, Iowa man was shot while attending a party in memory of 28-year-old Matthew Banks, a week after Banks was shot and killed.

A Burlington, Iowa man was shot while attending a party in memory of 28-year-old Matthew Banks, who was shot and killed on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.  Police said 43-year-old Maurice Green allegedly shot Banks three times after he lost $1,600 during a dice gambling game.

The latest victim, 35-year-old Roderick Johnson of Burlington, was shot once in the stomach at 553 S. 10th Street early Sunday, April 19, police said. Johnson was being treated for serious but non-life threatening injuries.

Justina Rucinski lives in the house next door to the home where the shooting happened. Rucinski, who has a two-year-old daughter and is pregnant with another child, said the gunshot sounded as if it were coming from her daughter's room.

Surveillance video from Rucinski's home captured the moments after the gun shots. The video shows more than a dozen people running away from the home.

Burlington man shot while attending party for shooting victim

A few blocks down the road, the latest shooting struck a nerve with Burlington resident Sandra Johnson. On Tuesday, April 21, Johnson stood in front of the house in the 1200 block of Jefferson Street where Matthew Banks was shot at a week earlier. Balloons, candles and thoughtful letters canvased the sidewalk. Johnson, who said she spoke to Banks nearly every day, picked up signs that had blown to the ground and put them back in their place.

"Instead of me being able to come out and yell across the street and talk trash, I come over here and make sure all his stuff is organized and just let him know that I still think about him every morning," Johnson said.  "It's like this will always be my reminder of him."

The suspect in the Banks murder, Maurice Green, was arrested in Galesburg, Illinois, and charged with first-degree murder. Green was jailed in lieu of $2 million bond.

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