Coralville man returned to Iowa to face murder charge in Taboo shooting

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Coralville man was in the Linn County Jail on Saturday after being extradited from an Illinois prison for fatally shooting a man April 10 at the Taboo Nightclub and Lounge.

Dimione Jamal Walker, 29, was returned to Iowa months later after Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks obtained a governor’s warrant to bring him back to face charges of first-degree murder, intimidation with a dangerous weapon, going armed with intent and felon in possession of a firearm. He was formally charged Saturday during an initial appearance.

Walker was being held at the Stateville Prison in Joliet, Ill., on parole violations for possession of a weapon after being arrested near Chicago in April.

He was identified as the person who fatally shot Michael Valentine, 25, inside the nightclub. The shooting was captured on a video surveillance camera and showed Walker shooting Valentine at “point blank range with what is believed to be a 9 mm handgun,” according to the criminal complaint.

Walker fired about eight shots and Valentine suffered six gunshot wounds, including one to his left cheek, the complaint states.

Walker has a previous felony conviction in Johnson County District Court of trafficking stolen weapons Aug. 31, 2018, according to the complaint.

Timothy Rush also was charged in the nightclub incident for fatally shooting his girlfriend, Nicole Owens, 35, the mother of his 1-year-old child, and Marvin L. Cox, 31, who initially survived but then died July 24 from his injuries.

Rush was originally charged with one count of second-degree murder; three counts of willful injury causing serious injury; three counts of reckless use of a firearm causing serious injury; three counts of willful injury causing bodily injury; three counts of reckless use of a firearm causing bodily injury; one count of intimidation with a dangerous weapon; and one count of possession of a firearm as a felon.

Last month, prosecutors amended Rush’s charges and added another second-degree murder charge and dismissed one count of willful injury and one count of reckless use of a firearm.

The criminal complaint stated that Rush “fired intentionally and indiscriminately” with what police believe was a 9 mm handgun into the large crowd at the club.

After further investigation, an amended complaint stated Rush also shot Alazia Cotton and Makayla Stokes, causing serious injuries, and Traniece Worley, Denise Triplett and Richard Nicksion, who suffered bodily injuries.

According to the complaint, 10 people were shot, but the other victims are not named.

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