Hunter
03/25/24
An Indiana man who allegedly held a gun to his wife’s head when police confronted him at the Iowa City bus depot in December 2022 has been sentenced to 43 years in prison.
Information received by police from a third party indicated 34-year-old Carldale Hunter was armed and trying to take his wife by bus to Chicago against her will. The couple’s three children were also present.
Upon seeing the arriving officers, Hunter reportedly pulled out a pistol, grabbed his wife, and pressed the gun to the back of her head and threatened to kill her if officers didn’t back off. The two then fled to the parking ramp.
Hunter also attempted to commandeer a vehicle from a woman stopped on the second floor of the ramp but was unsuccessful.
The couple were eventually cornered in the ramp. Police negotiations continued until Hunter released his wife then shot himself.
Earlier this month, Hunter struck a deal and pleaded guilty to six of 30 charges against him. .
The Daily Iowan reports Hunter told them at the sentencing that he would have fought the charges but could not afford an attorney and had to be represented by a public defender. He said he believed his best chance was to take the plea deal instead of risking a longer sentence following a trial.
Hunter claimed the kidnapping charge wasn’t valid and that his wife Shalitha was not there against her will. He also claimed he only asked the woman in the parking ramp for a ride, and didn’t attempt to commandeer it from her. As the ensuing standoff continued, Hunter told the DI he felt he would become the victim of a police shooting and decided to commit suicide instead.
Hunter pleaded guilty to Kidnapping in the third degree, Going armed with intent, Felon in possession of a firearm, Domestic abuse assault causing bodily injury or mental illness, Child endangerment, and Robbery in the second degree.
