Police arrest man accused of causing November 2023 lockdown at Iowa City High School
Iowa City Police have arrested a man who may who forced a local high school to go into lockdown.
Lawrence Russell, 39 of Iowa City, was arrested Monday in connection with a Nov. 8 incident near Iowa City High School that caused the school to activate its "Secure Mode" safety protocols. The situation stopped students from leaving the building at the end of the day as scheduled.
Russell was arrested for illegal possession of a firearm by a felon.
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Russell allegedly fired a riffle
Iowa City police responded to a report of shots fired in the 1800 block of High Street on Nov. 8, roughly a quarter-mile west of Iowa City High. Officers responded roughly five minutes before students were dismissed for the day.
Officers located shell casings outside of Russell's home. They later executed a search warrant on the home and found a Mossberg Rifle, according to the criminal complaint. Police also searched Russell's cell phone and discovered photographs of him holding the rifle in his living room.
The Mossberg company website indicates its rifles are typically used for game hunting.
Russell had been convicted of robbery and delivery of a controlled substance in another state, according to police. That felony conviction restricts him from possessing firearms.
Police also claim that Russell neglected to cooperate in the investigation and, when questioned by authorities, denied having heard or seen anything in the area.
Russell is facing one felony count of dominion or control of a firearm or offensive weapon by a felon.
He is currently being held in the Johnson County Jail on a $5,000 bond.
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Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at rhansen@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Arrest made in November incident that sent City High into lockdown
