Nell Petersen was working a shift at The Stuffed Olive early Sunday morning when she heard gunshots go off outside.
The second-year University of Iowa student said the sounds of gunshots was unmistakable, followed by the sight of a crowd running through the Pedestrian Mall as the situation quickly escalated.
Those moments of confusion and fear quickly gave way to a larger emergency response.
The shooting in downtown Iowa City early April 19 left five people injured, including three UI students, after gunfire erupted during a large late-night fight in the Pedestrian Mall, according to reports from the Iowa City Police Department.
As of April 20, two victims were released from the hospital with two in stable condition and one in critical condition. ICPD is still holding an investigation and have not caught the suspect as of April 20.
The last shooting on the Ped Mall was nearly a decade ago, which led to the death of 22-year-old Kaleek Asham Douglas Jones.
Petersen said she and her coworkers ran to the back of the restaurant and took cover in the kitchen as the situation unfolded outside.
“It felt apocalyptic,” she said. “We didn’t really know how to react or what to do because there have been gunshots in the Ped Mall before, but I don’t think it’s ever been something like this.”
Jack Twait, a first-year UI student, was walking in between Pancheros Mexican Grill and The Union Bar & Grill when the shooting happened — just about a block away from the Pedestrian Mall.
As someone who has lived in Iowa City his whole life, Twait said his first instinct was disbelief, questioning whether the loud pops he heard were actually gunshots because, he said, that kind of violence feels out of place in the community.
Uncertainty quickly turned to alarm as people began running and screaming. Police rushed to the scene within moments.
“Iowa City is such an amazing place with so much culture and so many things to do,” Twait said. “But when violence like this enters our community, it’s really sad, and not something I want to think anyone wants.”
As everything was unfolding, Petersen said she was looking at posts on Yik Yak, a hyperlocal, anonymous social media app designed for college students to post, read, and comment on messages, and saw a lot of people spreading racist and hateful messages.
“Everyone should band together,” she said. “We don’t need any politics and hate, we just need people comforting other people.”
In a post on Instagram, the UI Black Student Union said the shooting underscored the need for community care among students.
“As Black students, we understand that these moments often carry an additional weight, and we must remain vigilant, connected, and committed to protecting our well-being and each other,” the post said.
The union hosted an event for individuals to reflect on the incident and find community on April 21 in the Afro-American Cultural Center from 7 to 8 p.m. in response to the shooting.
“In times of crisis, our greatest strength lies in our unity,” the post said. “We want to emphasize the importance of looking out for one another and prioritizing our collective safety.”
The UI Undergraduate Student Government and Graduate and Professional Student Government issued a joint statement on Instagram and said support is available for students who need it. The groups had support resources available in the Iowa Memorial Union from 3 to 5 p.m. on April 19.
“We need to lean on each other during moments like this,” the statement said.
‘Reclaim the space of the Ped Mall’
Soft evening light settled over downtown Iowa City as people gathered in Trinity Episcopal Church. The sound of a bell echoed through the street as around 100 community members marched toward the Pedestrian Mall near where the shooting occurred to hold a vigil on April 20 with many holding onto each other and crying as they grieved.
Rev. Nora Boerner from Trinity Episcopal Church helped lead attendees in prayer, song, and support as they grieved those who were impacted by the shooting.
“We’ll pray together and be together in community, and also reclaim the space of the Ped Mall together so that it can be marked by community and care,” she said during a speech in the church.
In an interview with The Daily Iowan, Boerner said she wanted herself and the church to be present for the community and those affected following the incident.
“I’m here to support you, I’m here to be with you, to people who knew the victims and were just broken-hearted and don’t know which way to turn,” she said. “Everywhere across that spectrum is why we have to hold one another.”
Jon Green, Johnson County Board of Supervisor chair of the board, attended the vigil. He said while he wasn’t surprised the shooting happened, he felt a range of emotions but emphasized the urgency it adds to addressing violence in society.
“We’re just a deeply violent society, and there’s a lot of things that we could do as a culture to begin to hopefully bring some of those tendencies down,” he said.
Iowa City City Councilor Shawn Harmsen also attended the vigil and said the shooting reinforced his belief that no community is immune to gun violence.
“There is no place that’s safe from gun violence,” he said. “We’ve had gun violence in Iowa City before, but this felt like a unique incident.”
Harmsen said he has seen a lot of negative messages spread online about the shooting.
“Online space can be really ugly and really nasty,” he said. “Don’t fall into that trap. Don’t respond. There are people from all over the globe, all over the country, who are saying really out of pocket things about people here in Iowa City, and that’s not us. That’s not who we are.”
Local organizations, including Moms Demand Action, helped organize the vigil, working with clergy to help coordinate the gathering.
Temple Hiatt, local lead for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a community of survivors who have been affected by gun violence and advocate for a gun-free environment, helped lead the crowd and spoke at the vigil.
Hiatt said clergy from the Trinity Episcopal Church invited the organization to participate. She said she was processing heartbreak and sadness, and reflected on the broader emotional impact of the tragedy and the need for community change.
“I haven’t really held space for many of those emotions,” she said. “I was feeling some of them today during the service, heartbreak and sadness, that this is the way America chooses to live, and we don’t have to. We can make a change.”
Hiatt said Moms Demand Action is a resource people can use to find support, share their experiences, and connect with others impacted by gun violence.
“[I hope] survivors, those that were impacted by this event and their loved ones, understand that there are resources available for them,” she said. “There is a community that welcomes them to share their experience.”
Downtown businesses support community
The Iowa City Downtown District released a statement and said they are devastated by the incident and are thinking of those affected, including students, families, and employees.
“We know moments like this are deeply unsettling,” they said. “Downtown is a place where our community comes together, and when something like this happens, it affects us all.”
Veronica Tessler and Ryan Bruner, owners of Yotopia, which is located on the Pedestrian Mall, released a statement and said their priority is to maintain a secure, reliable business.
“This is our home, too, and we are committed to ensuring it is a safe space for those who live and visit here,” the statement said.
The Quarters Iowa City, an apartment complex located off Highway 6, sent out a statement to their residents acknowledging the downtown shooting and encouraging them to prioritize their well-being, check in with others, and use available university and crisis support resources while the incident remains under investigation.
“While this incident did not occur at our community, we understand that it can still affect how you’re feeling,” the statement said. “If you’re feeling anxious, distracted, or just not quite yourself today, that’s completely understandable.”
In a post on Facebook, Katy Brown, owner of Kitty Corner Social Club, said the store will continue to stand up against gun violence to ensure a safer community.
“We’re not going to pretend everything is fine today, because it isn’t,” she said in the post. “But we are here, our doors will be open, and we will keep showing up for the community that we love — without fear.”
Iowa City and campus resources
In the aftermath of the shooting, students and community members have been left processing fear, grief, and uncertainty. Local organizations and university groups are now emphasizing available resources aimed at providing support, connection, and care for those impacted.
Green said he hopes community members will take advantage of available support resources as they process the aftermath of the shooting.
“I hope that everybody, both in the university and the larger community, avails themselves of those resources,” he said. “That’s a good place to start, because everybody’s circumstances are a little different.”
- University Counseling Service
- Provides confidential mental health support for University of Iowa students, including counseling, crisis appointments, and referrals.
- Well-being at Iowa Comprehensive Resource Website
- A central online hub connecting the UI community to mental health, wellness, and basic needs resources.
- UI Support and Crisis Line
- A 24/7 phone line offering immediate emotional support, crisis counseling, and referrals to additional services.
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
- National 24/7 support for emotional distress, trauma, or crisis, available by call or text 988.
- GuideLink Center
- 24/7 walk-in crisis stabilization center for mental health and substance use support, offering short-term care and referrals.
- Community Violence Intervention
- Focuses on violence prevention through community-based support, outreach, and connection to resources for those affected by violence.
- CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank
- 24/7 crisis support, including emotional support, safety planning, and referrals.