Five people were shot in a nightlife district near the University of Iowa campus early Sunday, including three students, during a large fight, according to police and university officials. One victim was in critical condition while four others were stable.
The incident underscores ongoing concerns about gun violence on and near college campuses. Authorities said there were no indications that university students were the intended targets of the shooting.
Officers responding to reports of a large fight in downtown Iowa City near a pedestrian mall filled with bars and restaurants heard gunshots being fired early Sunday. Videos shared on social media showed multiple fights breaking out in front of an outdoor bar area before a crowd of dozens ran away.
Investigation Status
No arrests had been made as of Sunday morning. Police released photos of groups of people identified as persons of interest.
University Response
University President Barbara Wilson said three students were among the wounded. “While we await additional information, I am thinking about these students and their families, friends, and all the people who care about them,” Wilson said in a statement. “I am holding them close in my thoughts, along with everyone in our community who is hurting or feeling shaken right now.”
The university issued several alerts advising students to stay away from the area. One alert stated that “there are no indications any university students were the intended victims” of the shooting.
State Response
Governor Kim Reynolds said the shooting was a “senseless act of violence” that had “devastated the university community and our state.” Reynolds offered state assistance with the investigation.
The University of Iowa has approximately 31,000 students.