Today, the Marshalltown Police Department, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, filed criminal charges in connection with a March 25, 2020 shooting incident that seriously injured a 27-year-old Marshalltown man and killed Johnqwez Deanthony Lewis, age 22 of Marshalltown.
As a result of cooperation between the Marshalltown Police Department, and the Marshalltown community, as well as the determined efforts of the detectives and agents involved in this investigation, Robert J. Thomas, age 37, of Marshalltown is charged with one count of Attempt to Commit Murder (Class B Felony) and one count of Murder in the First Degree (Class A Felony). Thomas was already in the Marshall County Jail on unrelated charges and remains in custody pending an initial court appearance.
Robert J. Thomas
The Marshall County Attorney’s Office, Iowa Attorney General’s Office, Marshall County Sheriff’s Office and Mid-Iowa Drug Task Force all provided valuable assistance during the course of this investigation.
The charges against Thomas mark a milestone in this investigation but it is not a conclusion. Anyone with information about this incident should contact the Marshalltown police Department at 641.754.5725. Additionally, tips may be submitted by calling 641.753.1234, or via text messaging by texting the word “marshall” followed by the tip to CRIMES (274637), or online at www.marshallcountycs.com. All tips are completely anonymous and could earn a reward of up to $1,000 if the tip results in an arrest.
(A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.)
For more information, please contact:
Captain Christopher Jones
Marshalltown Police Department
641.754.5725
cjones@marshalltown-ia.gov
Adam DeCamp, Special Agent in-Charge
Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation
515.725.0030
decamp@dps.state.ia.us