A shooting in downtown Iowa City in the early morning hours of April 19 injured and hospitalized five people, including three University of Iowa students, according to the Iowa City Police Department, prompting an ongoing investigation and a wave of responses from university leaders and local officials calling for support, action, and community healing in the aftermath.

According to a press release from the Iowa City Police Department, at 1:46 a.m., a call was dispatched for a reported stabbing, gunshot, or other penetrating trauma on the Iowa City Pedestrian Mall — additional calls followed within minutes, including a report of a fight in progress at 1:50 a.m.

According to a UI Hawk Alert and police reports, five people were injured in the shooting, including three university students. Hawk Alert also sent out a message saying ICPD is asking for the public’s help to identify people of interest. 

UI President Barbara Wilson sent out a statement at 6:40 a.m. to university students, faculty, and staff, urging the campus community to support one another and take care during a difficult and unsettling moment.

“Take time to care for yourselves and for one another,” she said in the statement. “Check in with your friends, classmates, and colleagues, and reach out or simply sit with someone who may need it. Small acts of kindness and connection matter more than ever right now.”

UI Dean of Students Angie Reams also sent out a statement to the UI community providing resources, including a 24-hour crisis and support line and the University Counseling Service. 

RELATED: 3 UI students injured in downtown shooting, investigation ongoing

Board of Regents President Robert Cramer sent out a statement and said safety is a priority for the board, and they are in touch with UI officials to provide them support. 

“Our hearts are heavy, and our prayers are with the victims, their families, and anyone affected by this horrific incident,” Cramer said. 

Sara Sanders, dean of the UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, sent out a document to faculty on Sunday following the shooting, including talking points regarding the incident and support resources available to the campus community.

The talking points included details about the shooting, along with a timeline of the initial police response and how officers were dispatched after reports of a large fight and gunfire. They also noted that the investigation is ongoing and asked anyone with information or video footage to contact ICPD or submit anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers.

UI Health Care is treating those injured in the shooting. In an email to The Daily Iowan, UIHC Strategic Communications Director Laura Shoemaker said the hospital is still assessing how serious the injuries are and ensuring patients receive the care they need. 

Local leaders condemn shooting, call for community

As the investigation continued, local leaders and elected officials began weighing in, balancing grief with calls for accountability and long-term solutions to prevent future violence.

Johnson County Supervisor V Fixmer-Oraiz said while they send thoughts and prayers to community members, there needs to be action from the UI and local government.

“This really calls for collective action, political courage, and bold initiatives to keep our students and our community safe,” Fixmer-Oraiz said. 

Iowa City City Councilor Oliver Weilein said his initial reaction was fear and anger as he lives close to downtown and walks through the Pedestrian Mall every day. 

“A million faces went through my brain of people who could have been hurt,” he said. 

According to FBI-based county crime data compiled through Crime Explorer, Johnson County’s violent crime rate is about 51.2 per 100,000 residents, which is over 50 percent below the national average. 

Weilein said incidents like this stand out in a place where serious violence is relatively uncommon.

“Strong communities make violence rare,” he said. “For those of us who’ve lived in this town, in these neighborhoods for years, when something like this happens, it’s very shocking.” 

Iowa City Mayor Bruce Teague issued a statement on Facebook and said he is grateful for the quick response by ICPD, other first responders, and health care providers. He said he is sending his thoughts to those who were injured and their families. 

Johnson County Supervisor Rod Sullivan said building a safe community takes ongoing effort and involvement at multiple levels.

“It probably starts at home and works its way out to neighborhoods,” he said. “There are a lot of community resources here, but I don’t know if there’s ever anything that really makes something like this right.”

Johnson County is a partner with the Be Smart campaign, an organization that promotes responsible gun ownership to reduce child gun deaths. 

Fixmer-Oraiz said while Johnson County is a part of support groups like Be Smart, that alone is not enough to put an end to gun violence in the community. 

Fixmer-Oraiz said the Board of Supervisors welcomes any collaboration with the UI to make Iowa City and the campus safer. 

“Come together and educate yourself better,” they said. “Mourn this and also feel the rage and the anger and figure out not only how we are going to heal collectively, but also how we are going to take some of those action steps.”