Iowa City Police arrested a 23-year-old connected to a July 20 shooting in downtown Iowa City that injured two.
Iziah Poulsen of Coralville was arrested on Aug. 2 and charged with going armed with intent, participating in a riot, assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, assault with intent to inflict serious injury, reckless use of a firearm causing property damage and two counts of reckless use of a firearm causing bodily injury.
Poulsen was also charged with control of a firearm by a felon. He is prohibited from possessing firearms after a 2019 conviction for carrying weapons, though that charge was for using a BB gun.
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Altercation sparks gunfire
Police say Poulsen allegedly was involved in an altercation with two other people on the night of July 20. He allegedly left the area, returning a short time later with a gun.
Poulsen then allegedly shot the firearm multiple times “in a reckless manner” and “in a crowded area.” One of the bullets struck an unarmed individual in the area. Another bullet “penetrated a taco cart” and grazed the hand of an employee.
Police also accuse Poulsen of shooting at and “pistol whipp(ing)” an individual who tried to disarm him.
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Shooting initiates HawkAlert
The incident prompted the University of Iowa to issue a HawkAlert at 1 a.m. on July 20, advising students and staff to avoid the area.
The charges — five Class “D” felonies and three aggravated misdemeanors — mean Poulsen is facing as many as 31 years in prison and hefty fines.
Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at rhansen@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Coralville man arrested for July Ped Mall shooting
