Police in Iowa City are seeking a 17-year-old on attempted murder charges after a shooting early Sunday in a nightlife district near the University of Iowa, authorities said Wednesday. Iowa City Police Chief Dustin Liston said five people were treated for gunshot wounds in the incident, including three University of Iowa students.
Liston said one woman remained in critical condition as of Wednesday after sustaining a life-threatening injury to her head. He said one other victim was hospitalized in stable condition, while three had been released by then.
Authorities said the 17-year-old is wanted on an arrest warrant tied to an earlier fight, and officials said the case involved as many as 40 people. Officers were dispatched to the fight and arrived within 45 seconds, Liston said, before the shooting occurred.
Investigators said the suspect allegedly left the other participants and then fired six times into the crowded pedestrian area. Liston said Iowa City’s downtown pedestrian mall is lined with shops, bars and restaurants.
The charges will be brought once the suspect is apprehended, the Johnson County attorney said. Rachel Zimmermann Smith said the minor from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, would be initially charged as an adult as required by Iowa law for forcible felony charges against individuals aged 16 or older, and she said the case includes five counts of attempted murder.
Liston said the investigation was ongoing and that additional charges were expected. He said about three dozen search warrants had already been executed, and he urged anyone with information about the incident or the suspect to come forward.
Liston also said investigators had not found evidence that the victims were targeted because of any affiliation with the fight. “We have no reason to believe they were otherwise affiliated with the fight that preceded the shooting,” he said, adding that the five victims were not “targets of the shooting.”
Liston provided further detail on the victims’ injuries. He said one person was struck in the arm and chest, two were struck in one or both legs, and one was struck in the side of their stomach.
“We will continue to work tirelessly to hold those responsible fully accountable,” Liston said.