Iowa City man arrested after shots fired near hookah bar

IOWA CITY -- An Iowa City man is in jail, accused of shooting at someone outside a hookah bar, which people evacuated when they heard the shots.

Thomas Edward Clay, 26, is charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon, going armed with intent, assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, reckless use of a firearm, person ineligible to carry a dangerous weapon, possession of marijuana, controlled substance violation, failure to affix drug stamp and keeping premises for controlled substance violation.

Clay shot at another person at 1:32 a.m. July 7 with the intent of hitting them, according to criminal complaints. The other person could be seen on video footage running away from Clay.

The shooting happened at Burlington and Van Buren streets near an occupied hookah bar that dozens of people evacuated after the shots were heard, the complaints state.

While investigating the shooting, police searched Clay’s apartment and found more than 50 grams (1.7 ounces) of marijuana and materials for packaging and weighing it.

Police arrested Clay at 1 a.m. Sunday, a week after the shots fired call, at the Fieldhouse Bar, 118 S. Dubuque St. He had a loaded gun on his person and a small amount of marijuana, according to complaints.

Clay had his first appearance in court Monday and is being held in the Johnson County Jail on a $30,000 bond.

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