Coral Ridge Mall murder suspect to be tried in Story County

IOWA CITY - A North Liberty man charged with fatally shooting a young woman in the Coral Ridge Mall in June will be tried in Story County, where Judge Christopher Bruns says there likely has been less media coverage.

Alexander M. Kozak, 22, will stand trial for first-degree murder starting April 12, Bruns said at a hearing Friday in Johnson County District Court. The trial is expected to last two to three weeks.

'Story County makes the most sense,” Bruns said. 'I think we can find a fair jury there because there's been much less publicity.”

Kozak is accused of shooting Andrea Farrington, 20, of Cedar Rapids, in the back three times at close range, killing her, on June 12 in the Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville.

Kozak, who was a mall security guard, targeted Farrington, who worked at the Iowa Children's Museum in the mall, officials said. Kozak left work the afternoon of June 12, went back to his North Liberty condo and got a 9 mm Glock handgun. He returned to the mall and shot Farrington, who was staffing the mall information desk near the food court, court records state.

Kozak fled the mall after the shooting and was captured on Interstate 80 in Scott County, where he was taken into custody. He later told Division of Criminal Investigation agents he had shot Farrington, but officials have not shared information on Kozak's motive.

Kozak's attorneys asked earlier this month to change the location of the trial because of extensive news reports in Eastern Iowa about the shooting. The lawyers had suggested Cerro Gordo, Pottawattamie, Story or Woodbury counties for the trial.

Johnson County Attorney Janet Lyness said Friday she did not oppose the change in venue.

Bruns said he talked with officials from the Story County Courthouse in Nevada and they said they could provide courtroom space for two to three weeks starting April 12. A pretrial conference scheduled for Sept. 25 will stay on the books unless attorneys need more time, Bruns said.

Kozak remains held in the Johnson County Jail on $10 million cash bond.