Olivares

A 19-year-old from Aplington has been charged with a total of seven felony counts after allegedly shooting one victim and hitting another in the head with a handgun at Nicholson Ford Park in Marshalltown on Tuesday night.

According to a press release from the Marshalltown Police Department, a gunshot victim arrived at the local UnityPoint Health hospital at 8 p.m., and MPD officers and detectives were dispatched to speak to the victim, who indicated that they had been shot a short time before while another victim was struck in the head with a handgun. Both victims had items stolen from them.

Based off of a description provided by the victim and access to FLOCK license plate reading cameras, the suspect’s vehicle was quickly produced, and after interviews and search warrants were conducted, Nicholas Lee Olivares of Aplington was charged with attempt to commit murder and two counts of first degree robbery, all Class B felonies, willful injury, two counts of assault while participating in a felony and going armed with intent, all Class D felonies.

The MPD does not believe the attack was a random event and said the victims appeared to be “specifically targeted.” During the investigation the MPD was assisted by the Waterloo Police Department, Waverly Police Department, Butler County Sheriff’s Office and Bremer County Sheriff’s Office.

This investigation remains active, and additional arrests are expected. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Marshalltown Police Department at (641) 754-5725.

As of Wednesday evening, Olivares was being held in the Marshall County Jail without bond. He was previously arrested in Butler County on Aug. 8 and charged with driving while barred, and he pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily injury or mental illness in Bremer County earlier this year stemming from a 2023 incident.