Coralville man pleads to lesser charges in Iowa City shooting

A Coralville man last week pleaded to lesser charges in a July 4 shooting and assault.

Devwon Bledsoe, 37, originally charged with attempted murder, pleaded to going armed with intent, willful injury resulting in serious injury, participating in a riot and interference with official acts, according to a plea agreement.

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Bledsoe was part of group of 10 to 15 people who used unlawful force against two others in the 2600 block of Westwinds Drive in Iowa City. Police responded about 1 a.m. July 4 to a report of a shooting, according to a criminal complaint.

Bledsoe shot one man, George Jackson, and struck another man as he was walking away, and then kicked the man after he was on the ground. Jackson suffered two non-life threatening gunshot injuries, according to criminal complaint.

Police found four .45 caliber cartridge casings nearby. They also obtained video from the incident, and witnesses identified Bledsoe as the person who was armed with a gun.

Several others also have been charged with or convicted of participating in a riot and other charges stemming from the shooting.

The plea agreement stated all the charges against Bledsoe would run consecutively for a 25-year prison sentence, and he must serve a mandatory five years before being eligible for parole. Sentencing hasn’t been set at this time.

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