Trial set for North Liberty man accused in Coral Ridge Mall killing

IOWA CITY - A trial for Alexander Kozak, accused of shooting and killing 20-year-old Andrea Farrington at the Coral Ridge Mall last month, is set for Oct. 6 in Johnson County District Court.

Kozak, 22, of North Liberty, pleaded not guilty earlier this month to first-degree murder and remains in jail under a $10 million bail. If convicted, he faces life in prison without parole.

Kozak, a former mall security guard, is accused of shooting Farrington three times in the back at close range on June 12, according to a criminal complaint. Authorities have said Kozak, who resigned just before the fatal shooting, targeted Farrington, an Iowa Children's Museum employee, but have not provided specifics about why he fired at her that night.

According to the complaint, Kozak left the mall in the afternoon on June 12, went back to his condo and retrieved his 9 mm Glock handgun. He then returned to the mall and shot Farrington, who was staffing the mall information desk near the food court.

Kozak escaped from the mall after the shooting but was later found on Interstate 80 in Scott County and taken into custody.

According to trial information filed, 53 witnesses, including police, the Johnson County Medical Examiner and Farrington's mother and boyfriend, will testify.