Lang
5/17/25
An Iowa City murder suspect has waived his right to a speedy trial.
That’s according to court documents released Friday in the case of 44-year-old Antavis M.W. Watson. Watson was arrested on April 1st and charged with 1st Degree Murder, Attempted Murder, and Possession of a Firearm as a Felon in the death of 38-year-old Elijah Williams of Iowa City. Williams was shot and killed as he and another person were sitting in a car parked along the 1800 block of South Gilbert Street just before midnight on March 29th.
Witnesses say Watson fired several rounds into the vehicle, and phone records indicate Watson and Williams had been feuding leading up to the shooting.
Watson has previous kidnapping and other felony charges against him. He was given a ten-year prison sentence on charges of 1st Degree Theft and Domestic Abuse Assault Involving a Weapon after a 2011 incident in Johnson County. Robbery and weapons charges against Watson out of Lee, Henry and Des Moines counties have been dismissed in the past due to plea deals.
If convicted on the murder charge, Watson faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. As of Friday, his trial date was still set for July 8th.