Illinois man may get plea deal in Iowa City fatal shooting

IOWA CITY — One of the three men charged with fatally shooting a man during a robbery last April at an Iowa City apartment building may plead to lesser charges after his trial was taken off the schedule this week in Johnson County District Court.

Patrick Bland, 33, of Rockford, Ill., charged with first-degree murder in the April 20, 2020, fatal shooting of Kejuan Winters, 21, of Iowa City, has a tentative plea hearing set for Dec. 10 but also a judge reset his trial date for Jan. 25.

Assistant Johnson County Attorney Rachel Zimmermann Smith said she couldn’t comment on the possible plea at this time.

The other two trials for co-defendants, Durojaiya A. Rosa, 23, and Reginald Little, 45, both of Iowa City and also charged with first-degree murder, are still set for trial, Nov. 2 and Nov. 30. There is no information in court documents whether Bland might testify at their trials.

Police responded about 9:55 a.m. April 20, 2020, to 1960 Broadway St. in Iowa City for a report of a shooting, according to criminal complaints. Officers found Winters with multiple gunshot wounds. He died inside the apartment.

Also at the scene were Rosa and a woman. They gave police a description of the shooter and said they heard him fighting with Winters before hearing gunshots.

The investigation revealed Rosa and Little plotted to rob Winters in the apartment, according to the complaints. Rosa said they did not intend to kill Winters.

Police said Bland also was there and was the “principal” in the fatal shooting. Bland's gun, which he possessed illegally, was used in the shooting and his cellphone was found at the scene.

Both Little and Bland left the state. Little was arrested in Texas and Bland was arrested in Minneapolis. Both were extradited to Iowa.

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