One Pheasant Ridge shooting suspect pleads guilty

A Coralville man accused of exchanging gunfire with another man last month has entered a guilty plea and will be sentenced next month.

According to online court records, 19-year-old O'Sean Horton filed a written guilty plea on June 27 and is set to be sentenced on Aug. 11. The terms of his plea arrangement are not online. Horton originally faced charges of intimidation with a dangerous weapon, reckless use of a firearm causing property damage and carrying weapons. Iowa City police arrested Horton on suspicion of going armed with intent, but that charge was not filed by the Johnson County Attorney's Office.

Horton and 18-year-old Marqueese L. Hampton were arrested on June 4 after the two men allegedly fired shots at each other at the Pheasant Ridge Apartments on the west side of Iowa City. Hampton lived at Pheasant Ridge. Multiple officers responded to the neighborhood around 7:25 p.m. that evening after receiving reports of multiple shots fired. No injuries were reported, but one building was hit, police said.

Within minutes, police said they encountered two men matching the suspects' descriptions near Mormon Trek Boulevard and Westwinds Drive, close to where the shooting occurred. Those two men were identified as Hampton and 19-year-old O'Sean D. Horton, of Coralville.

According to criminal complaints, one witness identified Hampton by name as one of the shooters. Police said the witness could place Hampton on a patio outside 2650 Roberts Road before the shooting. The witness told police Hampton fired a gun at him and his friends as they walked by.

Police said Hampton denied shooting a gun, but admitted to being outside the building near where the shooting occurred.

Another witness provided a description that matched Horton's. The witness said Horton pulled out a gun and fired at Hampton. Horton denied being involved in the shooting, but also gave inconsistent statements to police.

Iowa City police Lt. Mike Brotherton said after the shooting that incident appeared to be caused by an argument over a girl.

Brotherton said police believe that Hampton was involved in an April 20 shooting at the complex and a 'majority of the problems” at the complex, which has been contracting with the police department this summer to provide additional patrols.

Hampton is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday. He is accused of intimidation with a dangerous weapon, reckless use of a firearm causing property damage and carrying weapons for the June 4 incident. He also faces charges of possession of marijuana and possession of contraband in a correctional institution.

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