Two suspects arrested in Ped Mall shots fired investigation

Lang
8/28/24

Two suspects are in custody after one of them allegedly fired several gunshots on the Ped Mall last month.

29-year-old Brandon Juniel and 34-year-old Channell Blount…who live together in Hannibal, Missouri…were both booked into the Johnson County Jail just before noon on Tuesday. Iowa City Police say the two were involved in an altercation with another subject on the Ped Mall in the early morning hours of July 20th. Juniel and Blount are both reportedly seen on video trying to strike the other person before leaving the scene and returning with a firearm. Juniel and the other subject allegedly fired several rounds at each other while in a crowd on the 200 block of South Dubuque Street, striking two people and causing property damage. The two injuries were non-life-threatening.

Juniel is charged with Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon Causing Injury, Reckless Use of a Firearm Causing Property Damage, Going Armed With Intent, Participating in a Riot, and Dominion or Control of a Firearm as a Felon. If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum of 27 years in prison.

Blount faces a Participating in a Riot charge and could spend up to five years behind bars, if convicted.

Juniel, a former resident of Taylor Drive, has previous felony convictions from his part in a  2019 riot on Hollywood Boulevard and a previous forgery incident.