Arraignment set in Iowa City shooting case

An arraignment has been set for the 17-year-old charged with first-degree murder for the October shooting death of 64-year-old landlord John Versypt in southeast Iowa City.

Police charged Charles W.C. Thompson, earlier this month after a nearly four month investigation after Versypt, of Cordova, Ill, was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head Oct. 8 in the hallway at the Broadway Condominiums, 1958 Broadway St., where he was in town to do some work.

Police Sgt. Denise Brotherton said several witnesses identified Thompson as being involved in the murder and his clothing matched that of one of the people fleeing the area after Versypt was shot, although she declined to say whether police believe he was the shooter.

Investigators have connected other people of interest with the killing, and more arrests could be coming, Brotherton said.

Lab results showed that the clothes Thompson was wearing at the time of the killing contained components that make up gunshot residue, according to police. Investigators were told that Thompson was seen on two occasions with a gun that is believed to be the same as the one found at the murder scene.

Thompson made his initial court appearance Feb. 11 where a judge set his bond at $1,000,000, and under Iowa law, Thompson was automatically charged as an adult.

His arraignment is set for March 4 at 2 p.m. at the Johnson County Courthouse.