Third person faces murder charge in Iowa City homicide

IOWA CITY - A third man has been accused of murder in the shooting death of Kejuan Winters.

Iowa City police said Tuesday that Patrick Bland, 32, of Rockford, Ill., was arrested Monday in Minneapolis on a warrant. He is awaiting extradition to Johnson County, where he will face one count of first-degree murder.

Police were called to 1960 Broadway St. at 9:55 a.m. April 20 for a report of a shooting, according to Iowa City police criminal complaints. Officers found Winters, 21, of Iowa City, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He died inside the apartment.

Also at the scene were Durojaiya A. Rosa, 22, of Iowa City, and a woman. They gave police a description of the shooter and said they heard him fighting with Winters before hearing gunshots.

The investigation revealed Rosa and Reginald Little, 44, plotted to rob Winters in the apartment, according to the complaints. Rosa said they did not intend to kill Winters.

Police said Bland also was present for the robbery and was the 'principal” in the fatal shooting. Bland's gun, which he possessed illegally, was used in the shooting and his cellphone was found at the scene, police said.

Bland fled the state in a rental car, police said.

Rosa and Little have been arrested and face charges of first-degree murder. Little is awaiting extradition from Texas.

In addition to the murder arrests, Winters' father, Tyris D. Winters, 41, of Peoria, Ill., and Tony M. Watkins, 39, of Iowa City, were arrested on attempted murder charges after confronting another person later the day of the shooting in Coralville about the homicide and shooting that person in the head and foot, police said.

Police also arrested Jordan R. Hogan, 21, of Iowa City, for on a charge of obstructing prosecution, saying he helped Little avoid arrest.

First-degree murder is a Class A felony punishable by an automatic life sentence.

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