Iowa woman fatally shot while leaving George Floyd protest

A 22-year-old Iowa woman was killed in an apparently random shooting while leaving a George Floyd protest in Davenport — one of two fatal shootings reported overnight during demonstrations in the city.

Italia Marie Kelly was leaving the protest with a friend around midnight Sunday when she was struck from the back by a bullet and collapsed near a local Walmart, according to her aunt.

Police said she was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

“She was always smiling, always laughing,” aunt Amy Hale said. “That’s why it’s so sad that she was taken in such a violent way.”

“That is not Italia,” she said. “She was the bright, bubbly big personality in the room.”

Kelly had decided to leave the demonstrations when it became unruly, her aunt said.

Police said dozens of protesters had gathered at the North Park Mall earlier on Sunday, and later fanned out in cars, damaging property and firing guns — including the shooting of an occupied police cruiser around 3 a.m. Monday.

Police Chief Paul Sikorski said at least one of the officers in the cruiser returned fire.

A vehicle fleeing the scene crashed during a police chase and several people were taken into custody, but no charges have been announced.

The second gunshot victim, who was not identified, was found nearby, but police have not determined if he was struck by a police bullet, the chief said.

“All of the things that we responded to throughout the night were acts of violence,” Sikorski said.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is now investigating the shootings, and two Davenport police officers have been placed on administrative leave, Sikorski said.

With Post wires