Cedar Rapids man pleads guilty to drug-related shooting in Iowa City

IOWA CITY -- A Cedar Rapids man has pleaded guilty to burglary and willful injury in connection with a November drug-related shooting in Iowa City.

Peter Francis Thullen, 21, could serve up to 35 years in prison for convictions on first-degree burglary and willful injury causing serious injury, both felonies.

“I understand the charges and the consequences,” Thullen told Judge Stephen Jackson Monday afternoon in Johnson County District Court.

Thullen admitted to entering a residence at 719 E. Bloomington St. without permission on Nov. 18 and shooting a man in the torso. Police alleged Thullen and Andrew David Meyer, 20, of Cedar Rapids, were trying to intimidate the man to get him to repay a drug debt.

The victim was treated for injuries.

In exchange for Thullen pleading guilty Monday, Assistant Johnson County Attorney Anne Lahey dropped additional charges of attempted murder and going armed with intent. Thullen agreed to serve his prison terms consecutively, Lahey said.

Thullen's sentencing date has not yet been set.

Meyer, charged with attempted murder, first-degree burglary and going armed with intent, is scheduled to go to trial Dec. 3.

Facebook pages for Thullen and Meyer indicated they graduated from Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School in 2011 and were students at the University of Northern Iowa. Thullen told Jackson he was a college sophomore.