Iowa City man pleads to lesser charges in Christmas 2019 fatal shooting

IOWA CITY — A 21-year-old Iowa City man, who fatally shot a man on Christmas in 2019 in retaliation for the victim “pistol-whipping” his father and breaking his jaw, pleaded to lesser charges last week.

Milton L. McAbee, originally charged with first-degree murder, which is a life sentence, pleaded in writing to voluntary manslaughter and intimidation with a dangerous weapon. He faces up to 20 years in prison and must serve a mandatory five years before being eligible for parole.

He also will be ordered at sentencing to pay $150,000 restitution to the heir or estate of Gregory Jackson, 30, who he shot Dec. 25, 2019, in the area of 952 Boston Way in Coralville.

McAbee, in the plea filed Oct. 12, admitted to intentionally shooting Jackson with a sudden, violent and irresistible passion resulting from serious provocation. He also admitted to threatening to shoot a firearm in a group of people and had the intent to provoke fear or anger in another.

Coralville police Chief Shane Kron told The Gazette a few months after the deadly incident that the shootings grew out of a dispute between juveniles — name calling and gesturing — who were roaming the neighborhood looking for a fight.

Elijah McAbee, 20, Milton’s brother, also was charged in the shooting

Court documents filed after the McAbee arrests indicate both were involved in shooting Jackson and Elijah is accused of shooting another witness.

Coralville police were called to the area at 9:32 p.m. where they found three people with gunshot injuries.

Jackson and another man — a “close associate” of Jackson who is identified only as 'Victim #2” — were taken to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, according to the search warrant affidavit. Jackson died about 10:41 p.m. An autopsy stated he had three to four gunshot wounds.

While investigators were at that hospital, they learned the brothers’ father, Phillip McAbee, was being treated for a fractured jaw as a result of being pistol-whipped by Jackson, according to the affidavit.

A criminal complaint stated Milton McAbee, in retaliation for Jackson injuring his father, threatened to kill Jackson. He obtained a gun and went with others to confront the man, fatally shooting him.

Milton McAbee admitted the shooting to another person, according to the complaint.

Officers at the scene said Elijah McAbee also was “upset and agitated” about what had happened to his father, the affidavits stated.

'Victim #2,” told authorities he was at an apartment on Boston Way with Jackson. They heard people were outside with guns. Jackson and another person, also not identified, went outside to check it out.

When Victim #2 caught up to Jackson and the other man, he saw an “adult Black male,” leaning up against a parked vehicle, with a rifle-style gun with a small ammunition magazine, according the court documents.

He asked the armed man what was going on, and then heard shots being fired near where Jackson was standing.

He turned toward the armed man near him, who raised a gun and pointed it at his chest.

The victim said he tried to grab the gun and was shot in the right shoulder. He ran and was shot again in the right ankle.

The shooter, he said, was Elijah McAbee, whom he recognized from the neighborhood.

Milton McAbee will be sentenced Dec. 3.

Trial for Elijah McAbee, charged with aiding and abetting first-degree murder, attempted murder, carrying weapons, assault with a dangerous weapon and assault causing bodily injury, remains set for Nov. 2 in Johnson County District Court.

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