(Iowa City) The suspect in April’s Ped Mall shooting in Iowa City is claiming self-defense.
Lawyers for 18-year-old Damarian Jones filed court documents on Wednesday declaring a self-defense strategy and asking that their client be separated from the 17-year-old who gave Jones the gun, police say was used to injure five bystanders.
Jones is scheduled to go to trial on five attempted murder charges on August 18, but his defense is now asking for more time to prepare.
The investigation has shown that at approximately 1:45 a.m., April 19, Damarian M. Jones, then 17, of Cedar Rapids, allegedly engaged in a fight in the 100 Block of East College Street in the Downtown Pedestrian Mall. Reports to police indicated as many as 40 people were involved.
Over the course of the fight, Jones allegedly obtained a firearm from another individual. According to the report, during a break in the fight, Jones walked away from the other combatants, drew the weapon, and fired six times into the crowded Pedestrian Mall.
