Iowa Authorities Launch Manhunt for Teenage Suspect Following Mass Shooting Near University Campus

Iowa City police are hunting 17-year-old Damarian Jones for five counts of attempted murder following a shooting near the University of Iowa.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 23, 2026, 10:37 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from CBS News

A Violent Confrontation in a Crowded District

Law enforcement officials in Iowa City have identified 17-year-old Damarian Jones as the primary suspect in a weekend shooting that targeted a popular student and pedestrian hub. According to an arrest affidavit, the incident unfolded around 1:45 a.m. on Sunday when a physical fight broke out involving Jones and several other individuals. As the altercation escalated, Jones reportedly obtained a handgun and fired six rounds into a crowd at the Pedestrian Mall, a location situated in close proximity to the University of Iowa campus.

Attempted Murder and Assault Charges Filed

On Wednesday, the Iowa City Police Department formally announced a litany of serious charges against the Cedar Rapids teenager. Jones faces five counts of attempted murder, alongside five counts of willful injury assault causing serious injury or bodily harm, and one count of going armed with intent. State law defines the latter charge as the carrying of a dangerous weapon with the specific intent to use it without justification against another person. Despite the gravity of these charges, Jones has remained at large since the morning of the shooting.

Innocent Bystanders Caught in the Crossfire

Investigators have emphasized that the five individuals struck by gunfire were likely not the intended targets of the initial dispute. Police reports indicate that there is no evidence to suggest the victims were affiliated with the altercation that preceded the violence. Instead, they were reportedly caught in the direct line of fire as Jones aimed toward a group he had been fighting earlier. Chief Dustin Liston noted that the lives of these victims have been forever altered by what he described as a senseless act of violence.