IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Police are looking for a 17-year-old man on attempted murder charges following a shooting early Sunday in a nightlife area near the University of Iowa campus, authorities said Wednesday.
Five people were treated for gunshot wounds, including three University of Iowa students. A woman was in critical condition Wednesday after suffering a life-threatening head injury, Iowa City Police Chief Dustin Liston said.
An arrest warrant has been issued for a 17-year-old man suspected of being involved in the brawl, officials said, adding that reports suggested as many as 40 people may have been involved. Liston said police were dispatched to the fight and arrived within 45 seconds.
After the suspect left the other attendees, he allegedly fired six shots into the crowded pedestrian area, Liston said. Downtown Iowa’s pedestrian mall is lined with shops, bars, and restaurants.
Johnson County Prosecutor Rachel Zimmermann Smith said the minor, who is from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, will initially be charged as an adult, a mandatory felony charge under Iowa law against individuals 16 years of age or older.
She said the charges, which include five counts of attempted murder, would be filed after the suspects are arrested.
Liston said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges are expected to be filed. About three dozen search warrants have been executed.
“We will continue to work tirelessly to hold those responsible fully accountable,” he said, adding that anyone with information about the incident or the suspects was encouraged to come forward.
Liston said the five victims were not “the targets of the shooting.” “We have no reason to believe they had any other connection to the fight leading up to the shooting.”
Liston also provided details of the injuries sustained by four other victims, including one to the arm and chest, two to one or both legs and one to the abdomen. One of them remains in hospital in stable condition and three have been discharged, he said.
