Judge sets $10 million bond for shooting suspect

A judge set a $10 million cash-only bond for the suspected shooter in the death of a 20-year-old woman Friday at the Coral Ridge Mall.

Alexander Matthew Kozak, 22, who is charged with first-degree murder, made an initial appearance in court shortly after 8 a.m. Saturday at the Johnson County Jail.

Magistrate Judge Chad Thomas approved Kozak's request for a public defender, set the bond and set a preliminary hearing for June 23.

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Kozak, a North Liberty resident, is accused of fatally shooting a woman Friday inside Coral Ridge Mall. Authorities evacuated the mall after the shooting, and according to the mall website, is closed until further notice, according to its website.

Kozak was at the mall earlier Friday, according to court documents, after which he allegedly retrieved a gun from his residence, returned to the mall about 7:30 p.m., shot the victim in the back three times and fled. Witnesses told the Press-Citizen Friday evening that several shots rang out in the food court area near the carousel entrance.

Authorities have not yet identified the victim, who was taken to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics but died of her injuries later that night, according to a press release.

According to a press release from the Coralville Police Department, witnesses helped officials quickly identify the name of the suspect and his vehicle information was broadcast to surrounding law enforcement agencies. The Iowa State Patrol located the vehicle eastbound on Interstate 80 near Davenport and took Kozak into custody without incident.

After being issued a Miranda warning, the court documents state, Kozak admitted that he intentionally killed the victim and that it was premeditated.

Reach Jeff Charis-Carlson at 319-887-5435 or jcharisc@press-citizen.com. Follow him @jeffcharis.