Authorities have formally charged the suspect in last week’s Monticello fatal shooting with murder.
Monticello Police say 38-year old Nathan Russell of East Dubuque, Illinois, was charged on Friday afternoon with First Degree Murder in the death of 48-year old Aaron McAtee of Monticello.
Police say McAtee, who was an employee of Fareway, had been outside of the Monticello Fareway store near the loading dock on Tuesday morning when he was shot in what appears to have been a random act of violence.
McAtee was airlifted to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, where he died from his injuries on Tuesday.
Area law enforcement began an active search for Russell, who was found in Hopkinton later Tuesday morning by a Delaware County deputy. Police say Russell failed to comply with the deputy’s directions as authorities attempted to take him into custody. The deputy discharged his firearm in an attempt to detail Russell.
Russell was airlifted to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics with gunshot injuries. He remains in law enforcement custody while hospitalized.
Russell has also been charged with Going Armed with Intent and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. He appeared for his initial appearance before the District Court Judge via video call from University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics on Saturday morning.
His bail is set at one million dollars cash-only.
The investigation remains ongoing.
