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.
A man charged with first-degree murder in a fatal shooting along Gilbert Street has filed a not guilty plea.
Antavis M.W. Watson, 44, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a felon and attempted murder in connection with the late March shooting that killed 38-year-old Elijah Williams. A case management conference is set for May 16.
Watson is currently being held on a roughly $1 million bond.
The not guilty plea sets Watson on a course for a summer trial currently scheduled for July 8. If convicted, Watson faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.
‘Feud’ ignited alleged shooting, police say
The Iowa City Police Department responded to a report of a shooting at 11:57 p.m. on March 29 in the 1800 block of South Gilbert Street, according to a news release and criminal complaints.
Officers found a male victim suffering from a gunshot wound. The man, later identified as Williams, was transported to the University of Iowa Health Care Medical Campus, where he later died.
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.
Police believe Watson “(knew) the victim,” and cell phone data from Williams’ phone “indicate(s) that the defendant and the victim were feuding.”
The other passenger in the vehicle said they were “in fear for their life,” according to court documents.
Watson did not provide a known address to police when he was arrested. He was apprehended on April 1 in the 300 block of 2nd Street in Coralville.
Watson was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon because of a 2012 conviction for first-degree theft.
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: Man pleads not guilty to 1st-degree murder for fatal March shooting in Iowa City
Reporting by Ryan Hansen, Iowa City Press-Citizen / Iowa City Press-Citizen
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
