Hunter
07/20/22
Two Iowa City residents have been taken into custody and charged in connection with an armed robbery that involved a gunshot being fired Tuesday afternoon.
The incident reportedly happened around 5:15 pm in the 3500 block of Shamrock place, at the residence of 31-year-old Joey Smith Jr. and 29-year-old Marcia Smith-Buckhalter. According to the criminal complaint, Smith-Buckhalter arranged for the victim to come to their residence to smoke marijuana. When the victim arrived, Smith allegedly pointed a black gun at his head and demanded that he remove his personal belongings. Smith then escorted the man out of the residence.
Once the man was outside, Smith reportedly fired one shot at the victim and told him to never come back.
Officers executed a search warrant at the couple’s residence and located a black .380 Smith & Wesson handgun, along with several of the victim’s belongings scattered or hidden inside.
Smith allegedly admitted to officers that he had touched the weapon previously. He is a convicted felon from an arrest back in June of 2019 and therefore ineligible to own or possess a weapon.
Smith and Smith-Buckhalter are each charged with 1st degree Robbery, while Smith faces additional charges of Going Armed With Intent, Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon, and Dominion or Control of a Firearm as a Felon.
Smith-Buckhalter could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison, while Smith faces a prison sentence of up to 45 years.
The incident remains under investigation and the Iowa City Police Department is asking anyone with additional information – including camera footage – to contact them.