Police: Man shoots friend while riding in car

A West Liberty man has been arrested for allegedly shooting his friend in the leg while riding in a car with him.

Iowa City police said Jonathan Aragon Salas, Jr., 21, of 615 N. Clay St. in West Liberty was riding in the front seat of a car at about 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 1, while his friend, Sergio E. Martinez, 19, of 4494 Taft Ave. in Iowa City was driving.

According to a police complaint, Aragon Salas was in possession of a pistol and, while they were driving, "removed the ammo clip from the pistol then pointed the gun down at Sergio Martinez's legs and pulled the trigger. The gun fired and the bullet struck and traveled through both of Sergio Martinez's legs."

Aragon Salas has been charged with reckless use of a firearm causing serious injury, a class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Martinez has been charged with filing a false report to police about the gunshot after he arrived at Mercy Hospital following the incident. He told police he was out for a walk through the Rose Oaks Apartment complex when he was randomly shot multiple times by black men he did not know, police said. An investigation by officers proved Martinez's story was false, according to a separate police complaint.

Both men are currently being held in the Johnson County Jail.

Reach Stephen Gruber-Miller at 319-887-5407 or sgrubermil@press-citizen.com. Follow him at @sgrubermiller.