Waterloo man sent to prison for shooting

10-13-2011 Iowa:

WATERLOO, Iowa --- A Waterloo man has been sentenced to prison for shooting and wounding a man who was making fun of him for being a registered sex offender.

Brandon Nicholas Lanier, 29, also was sentenced Friday for possession of crack cocaine with intent to deliver in connection with a bag of crack that police found while investigating the June 4 shooting.

He was sentenced to 10 years for intimidation with a weapon, five years for being a felon in possession of a firearm and 25 years in prison for the drug charge. The sentences will run concurrently.

His probation for the prior sex offense also was revoked.

According to court records, witnesses told police that the victim, 40-year-old Tony Flowers, was making fun of Lanier because he was listed on the state sex offender registry for having contact with a teenager.

Lanier's brother became upset with Flowers, and a fight followed. Flowers left but then returned, and a second fight broke out, records state.

When that scuffle was over, Lanier walked up to Flowers and pointed a handgun at this head, records state. The brother then came between the two, and Flowers drove off. Lanier opened fire, records state, and one of the bullets struck Flowers in the arm.

Officers who responded to the shooting noticed Lanier, who was on probation at the time for the sex charge, placing something by the steps of his house. They looked and found a zippered pouch with $500 in cash and crack cocaine, records state. ..Source.. by Jeff Reinitz