Kozak faces formal murder charges in Coral Ridge Mall shooting

IOWA CITY - A North Liberty man has been formally charged with first-degree murder after a June 12 shooting at Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville.

Alexander M. Kozak, 22, is accused of shooting Andrea Farrington, 20, of Cedar Rapids, in the back three times at close range, killing her, according to a trial information filed Tuesday in Johnson County District Court.

Kozak, who was a mall security guard, targeted Farrington, who worked at the Iowa Children's Museum in the mall, officials have said. Kozak left work the afternoon of June 12, went back to his North Liberty condo and got a 9 mm Glock handgun. He returned to the mall and shot Farrington, who was staffing the mall information desk near the food court.

Kozak fled the mall after the shooting and was captured on Interstate 80 in Scott County, where he was taken into custody. He remains held on a $10 million cash bond. He later told Division of Criminal Investigation agents he had shot Farrington, but officials have not shared information on Kozak's motive.

The trial information lists 53 witnesses, including law enforcement officers, Johnson County Medical Examiner Marcus Nashelsky, Farrington's mother and Farrington's boyfriend.

Kozak's arraignment is set for July 2.