WATERLOO - The Iowa Court of Appeals has upheld the murder conviction of a Waterloo man charged in a gang-related shooting that left a woman dead in 2004.

Jurors found Christopher Deangilo Spates guilty of first-degree murder after he and others associated with The Hood allegedly opened fire at a house on Harrison Street where L-Block members gathered following a fight at a nightclub Oct. 10, 2004.

Prosecutors said Spates' brother fired the fatal shot, which struck Thyanna Parsons, who was attending a party inside. The brother, Ricardious "Carl" Spates, also was convicted of murder at the trial.

Christopher Spates contested the verdict, saying the evidence didn't support the charge.

But the Iowa Court of Appeals turned down his argument in a ruling filed Friday.

"We conclude substantial evidence supports Christopher's conviction of first-degree murder," said the opinion penned by Judge David Baker. "While the evidence may not support a finding that (Chris) Spates fired the shot that killed Thyanna Parsons, it would support a finding that he aided and abetted the individual that did."

Evidence included testimony from another involved in the shooting that Christopher Spates fired a shotgun during the attack, and police found shotgun shells near the house. There was also testimony that Christopher Spates drove Dorondis Cooper to the hospital after he was shot in the crossfire, and police found Cooper's blood in his vehicle.

Christopher Spates also argued jurors should have been allowed to consider the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter.

But the Court of Appeals said there was no evidence presented that would have led jurors to that conclusion. Spates had contended he was elsewhere during the shooting and not that he acted in the "heat of passion" following provocation, as the manslaughter charge would indicate.

The court also turned down Spates' claims that he should have been given a new court-appointed attorney and had a separate trial instead of going before a jury with his brother.

Contact Jeff Reinitz at (319) 291-1578 or jeff.reinitz@wcfcourier.com.