Hunter/Lang
02/20/24
A sentencing date has been set for an Iowa City man who was found guilty of bringing a firearm into Grant Wood Elementary School.
Police say 31-year-old Brandon Jones of The Quarters on Highway 6 East entered the main office at the Lakeside Drive facility on November 29th to reportedly confront Principal Ernie Cox about sending his son home from school. Staff at the school reported that Jones demanded to see Cox and threatened multiple times to assault him. He also allegedly threatened another staff member who tried to de-escalate the situation.
At one point, Jones reportedly removed a loaded pistol and holster from his belt, handed it to his girlfriend who accompanied him and told her something to the effect of holding the weapon for Jones so he won’t do “something stupid”. Jones then went into the school halls to look for Cox, against the protests of staff. He and the girlfriend left when staff called the police.
The incident was captured on security video.
Jones was charged with Carrying Weapons on School Grounds and two counts of First Degree Harassment. Jones was also initially charged with second-degree burglary, which will be dropped as part of a plea agreement.
Prosecutors are asking for the five-year felony count and two aggravated misdemeanor counts to run consecutively. Jones is asking for a deferred judgement.
He will be sentenced on March 25th.