Trial delayed for man arrested after Iowa City Ped Mall shooting

IOWA CITY - The trial for Donte Taylor - one of two men arrested after the deadly Iowa City Pedestrian Mall shooting in August - won't take place until next year at the earliest.

Taylor, 21, was scheduled to have a case management conference on Friday for a trial that had been scheduled to start Oct. 24. However, before the hearing, Johnson County Attorney Janet Lyness said the proceedings had been continued.

Lyness said the decision to push back the trial was a mutual one between her office and Taylor's defense team. A new trial date has not been set, but Lyness said the trial won't take place until 2018.

Iowa City police took Taylor into custody near the Sheraton Hotel in the early morning hours of Aug. 27 after a shooting on the Ped Mall. Police said Taylor tried to run from officers and was found with a 9 mm handgun in his possession. He told officers the gun was stolen.

Taylor faces charges of trafficking in stolen weapons, possession of a firearm by a felon and carrying weapons. He remains in custody on a $76,000 bond.

Also arrested after the shooting, which occurred around 1:16 a.m. Aug. 27, was Lamar Wilson, 21. Police said Wilson fired several rounds at several people from close range near the walkway between the Sheraton and Martini's bar. Three people were stuck and one of them, Kaleek Jones, 23, died of his injuries.

The shooting has been blamed on an ongoing feud between two groups. Wilson is accused of first-degree murder for Jones' death. He also faces two counts of attempted murder and three counts of intimidation with a dangerous weapon. He is scheduled to go to trial on Nov. 7.

First-degree murder is a felony punishable by life in prison.

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