Fourth suspect arrested in connection with Iowa City shots fired incident near Grant Wood Elementary

IOWA CITY - A fourth suspect faces additional charges in connection with a December shots fired incident.

Iowa City police said in criminal complaints that 18-year-old Sydney Howard, of Iowa City, was part of a group that participated in a group assault on Dec. 4, 2017, near the intersection of Amber Lane and Lakeside Drive. Authorities said around 12:32 p.m. that day, Howard and several other suspects were blocking the roadway and preventing a vehicle from passing.

Police said the victim arrived home, saw what was happening and confronted the group. Howard and five others assaulted the man. He also told police that one member of the group pulled a gun and fired it in his direction. A shell casing was found at the scene and other evidence of the gunshot was discovered by police.

Officers responded to the area and five of the suspects were taken into custody after attempting to flee. Police said Howard was later identified by watching security video.

Howard faces charges of willful injury causing bodily injury, assault with intent to inflict serious injury and participating in a riot. Three other men previously connected to this incident - Victor B. Jones, 18; Daivon D. Jones, 18; and Dimione J. Walker, 24 - were arrested earlier this week and face the same charges.

Dearl R. Johnson, 20; and Brandon L. Juniel, 22; were both arrested after the initial incident, but have not been arrested on any new charges at this time.

Willful injury causing serious injury is a Class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison. Assault with intent to inflict serious injury and participating in a riot are aggravated misdemeanors punishable by up to two years in prison.

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