Andrea Farrington Identified As Shooting Victim

FARRINGTON, KOZAK

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 2/2/2016 at 09:37:39

KWWL.com
June 13, 2015

ANDREA FARRINGTON IDENTIFIED
AS CORAL RIDGE MALL SHOOTING VICTIM

CORALVILLE (KWWL) - Andrea Farrington, a 20-year old employee of the Iowa Children's Museum, has been identified as the victim of Friday night's shooting at the Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville.

Johnson County Attorney, Janet Lyness released Ms. Farrington's name during a late Saturday afternoon press conference at Coralville City Hall. Lyness said Ms. Farrington was shot three times Friday night inside the mall and pronounced dead at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Lyness said Andrea Farrington was a 2012 graduate of Montezuma High School, who had been living in Cedar Rapids and working her dream job at the Iowa Children's Museum inside Coral Ridge Mall.

County Attorney Lyness told reporters Ms. Farrington had only worked at the museum for about six months, and was working there Friday night when she was shot in the back three times around 7:30 p.m.

The suspect, 22-year old Alezander Kozak of North Liberty, is charged with first degree murder in Ms. Farrington's death.

With Kozak, a Coral Ridge Mall security guard already in custody, authorities say there is no further threat to the general public.

Kozak made an initial court appearance this morning, where Johnson county Magistrate Chad Johnson, set Kozak's bail at $10-million, cash.

Court documents indicate the shooting was not a random act of violence. Janet Lyness told reporters the North Liberty man, who once lived in Anaheim, California, planned on shooting and killing 20-year old Ms. Farrington.

Both Kozak and Farrington were at Coral Ridge Mall Friday night. In an interview with investigators following his arrest, Kozak admitted he left the mall and went to his North Liberty apartment where he picked up a Glock 9mm pistol.

Kozak told investigators he returned to the mall and intentionally opened fire on Ms. Farrington, shooting her in the back three times.

Kozak fled the scene and authorities later found the 9mm Glock on or near the Coral Ridge Mall grounds.

First responders transported Ms. Farrington to University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, where she was pronounced dead. Court documents said Kozak told police he intentionally killed the woman and that it was a premeditated act.

Authorities did not release any motive for the shooting, but said there were no criminal charges filed against Kozak prior to the incident. KWWL has not been able to confirm reports that Ms. Farrington had filed, or was going to file, a sexual harassment complaint against Mr. Kozak.