Alexander Ruben Alvarado, Unlawful User of a Controlled Substance in Possession of a Firearm, Iowa 2017

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Iowa Man Sentenced for Random Vehicle Shootings

A 21-year-old Iowa City man has been sentenced to 36 months in prison for his role in a string of random vehicle shootings in the Iowa City area. Alexander Ruben Alvarado, 21, pleaded guilty to the charge of unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm, as announced by United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum.

According to court documents, between July 4, 2017, and July 11, 2017, Alvarado was responsible for shooting at random vehicles and apartment complexes in the Iowa City area from his second-story apartment complex. The shooting resulted in damage to several vehicles and two residences.

On July 11, 2017, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Alvarado’s residence, where they found three firearms, one of which was stolen, over 30 rounds of ammunition, over 20 grams of marijuana, and dozens of miscellaneous pills, including OxyContin and Xanax.

“This sentence sends a clear message that illegal gun possession and reckless behavior will not be tolerated in our community,” said United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum.

The case was investigated by the Iowa City Police Department, the Johnson County Drug Task Force, and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Alvarado was ordered to serve three years of supervised release following his prison term and pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

Residents in the Iowa City area can breathe a sigh of relief now that the individual responsible for the random shootings has been brought to justice. The community can rest assured that law enforcement agencies will continue to work tirelessly to keep them safe.