Iowa City police take Chicago murder suspect into custody

IOWA CITY - A man wanted on a murder charge out of Chicago was peacefully taken into custody in Iowa City Monday afternoon.

Members of the Iowa City Police Department's crisis negotiation team, special response team and investigators with the Johnson County Joint Drug Task Force responded to 810 Benton Dr. after working with the Chicago Police Department and learning that 29-year-old Lorenzo Jones - who has ties to both Iowa City and Chicago - was in a unit in the building. Iowa City Police Sgt. Scott Gaarde said the Chicago Police Department was investigating a homicide on Dec. 26, and on Dec. 27 took out a warrant for his arrest in connection with the investigation.

'The Chicago Police Department had information he was here,” Gaarde said.

Gaarde said Jones is accused of shooting someone on Christmas, but he did not have any other details on the alleged crime.

After deploying to the apartment complex, crisis negotiators were able to get Jones on the phone and Jones gave himself up quickly. Gaarde said he was not aware of any injuries to Jones, police or civilians.

'The suspect is in custody and everyone gets to go home safe,” he said.

As a precaution, police deployed the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle, or MRAP. Gaarde said police had information that Jones could have been in possession of an assault rifle. Immediately following his arrest, Gaarde said he did not know whether such a weapon - or any weapon - was recovered.

The unit Jones was inside belonged to 'acquaintances” of Jones, Gaarde said.

Roommates Christopher Hunter and James Kinney, who live in the 810 building, arrived home just as police were clearing the scene. The men said they were shocked to hear what had happened just moments before.

'It's kind of crazy,” Kinney said.

Hunter and Kinney said there have been some incidents in the area - specifically, reports of shots fired before they moved in - but said the complex was generally safe.

Jones will remain in custody in Johnson County until he can be extradited to Chicago. ​