Arraignment date changed for man charged in connection with Iowa City shooting death

Arraignment for the man charged in connection with the Dec. 30 shooting of 20-year-old Kylie Jo Perkins has been moved to Jan. 28.

Police arrested Alajuwon Johnson, 26, on Dec. 31 and charged him with involuntary manslaughter, carrying weapons, possession of marijuana and possession of cocaine with intent to deliver, according to police reports.

Police said Johnson was visiting Perkins at her apartment at 1527 Aber Ave. when both Johnson and Perkins mishandled a concealed gun he had brought into the apartment illegally.

According to details outlined in Johnson County Court documents, Perkins was shot with a 9-millimeter Ruger semi-automatic pistol that Johnson had snatched away from her. Perkins suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the chest.

Iowa City investigators said Johnson admitted he did not contact emergency officials immediately after Perkins was shot, despite her pleading, because he was still wanted by authorities on some unrelated misdemeanor charges.

Johnson eventually asked a friend to call for help and left with his handgun. The third-party caller told police a robbery at 1227 Aber Ave. had prevented Perkins, who had been incapacitated by the gunshot, from calling emergency services.

Johnson is being held in the Marshall County Jail on a $68,000 bond.