Editor’s Note: Antavis Watson was found not guilty of first-degree murder by a jury on April 28, 2026. His attempted murder charge was dismissed.
Iowa City Police have arrested a man they believe is responsible for a fatal weekend shooting.
Antavis M.W. Watson, 44, was arrested with the help of the U.S. Marshals Service on three separate charges on Tuesday for first-degree murder, attempted murder, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
The charges come three days after police announced that an Iowa City man, now identified as Elijah Williams, 38, was allegedly shot and killed shortly before midnight on Saturday, March 30.
Police respond to weekend shooting
The Iowa City Police Department responded to a report of a shooting at 11:57 p.m. on Saturday on the 1800 block of South Gilbert Street, according to a news release.
Officers who responded to the scene found a male victim suffering from a gunshot wound, the news release said.
Police believe Watson allegedly approached Williams and another person who were seated inside a vehicle on S. Gilbert Street, according to criminal complaints. Watson allegedly displayed a weapon, then “fired several shots” into the vehicle at the two people.
Officers transported the Williams to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to a Sunday, March 30 news release. The other passenger in the vehicle said they were “in fear for their life,” according to court documents.
Police believe Watson knew Williams. Watson did not provide a known address to police when he was arrested. He was apprehended on Tuesday, April 1, in the 300 block of 2nd Street in Coralville.
Watson was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon on Tuesday due to a guilty conviction in 2012 for first-degree theft.
Watson’s bail is set at $250,000.
The Des Moines Register’s Susan Stapleton contributed to this article.
Brandon Hurley is the editor for the Iowa City Press-Citizen and the Ames Tribune. He can be reached at bhurley@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Man charged with 1st-degree murder in connection to fatal weekend shooting in Iowa City
Reporting by Brandon Hurley, Iowa City Press-Citizen / Iowa City Press-Citizen
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