Suspects Arrested for Shooting Death of Randal Campbell

Two suspects have been arrested for their involvement in the June 21, 2019 death of Randal Joseph Campbell, DOB/04-30-1975, who was 44 years old at the time of his death.

On June 21, 2019 at 9:08 p.m., police officers were dispatched to 1834 Hamilton Street SW for a reported suicide.  Upon officers’ arrival, they found Randal Campbell deceased with an air rifle positioned on his lap and torso.  An ongoing investigation by the Police Department determined that the crime scene had been staged to appear to be a suicide.

Investigators determined that Joshua Kennieth Conklin, DOB/12-19-1992, age 28, actually shot Campbell at close range with the air rifle.  The pellet from the air rifle went through the victim’s right eye and entered the victim’s brain.  During the autopsy by Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner, the pellet was recovered from the victim’s right lobe of his cerebellum.  The Medical Examiner determined the cause of death to be a gunshot wound to the victim’s head.

Investigators learned that Conklin had been living in the detached garage at 1834 Hamilton Street SW and had a recent conflict with the owner of the residence, Campbell’s mother.  Conklin was captured on video surveillance near the detached garage leaving the crime scene with his girlfriend, Felisha Ann Marie Campbell, DOB/03-16-1994, age 26.

Investigators determined that Conklin was previously in possession of the air rifle, assumed responsibility for owning the air rifle, and admitted that he knew the capacity of the air rifle to kill animals.  Conklin’s fingerprints were found on the air rifle as well.

In addition, Conklin is accused of knowingly altering or disguising physical evidence which would have been admissible in the trial and/or furnished false information with the intent it be used in the trial for the prosecution of the homicide of Randal Campbell.

Conklin was incarcerated at the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility on unrelated charges when the Cedar Rapids Police Department submitted a warrant request to the Linn County Attorney’s Office on July 27, 2020.  The Linn County Attorney’s Office filed charges for Murder-2^nd Degree and Obstructing Prosecution.  A hold was placed on Conklin and he was transferred to the Linn County Jail this afternoon to face prosecution on the murder and obstruction charges in this case.

Warrants were also issued for Felisha Campbell for her involvement in the shooting.  Felisha Campbell was arrested on warrants for Conspiracy to Commit a Forcible Felony and Accessory after the Fact on December 21, 2020.  She was arrested following a police pursuit in which she attempted to elude officers in a stolen vehicle.  An officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop at 1:24 a.m. near 3^rd Avenue and Park Court SE but the suspect refused to stop.  Officers were able to disable the suspect vehicle with stop sticks and apprehend Campbell near the Menards parking lot off of Highway 100 in Marion.  The suspect was charged with Theft-2^nd Degree, Driving While Barred, Felony Eluding, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of a Controlled Substance-Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance-Marijuana, Carrying Weapons, Speeding, Disobedience to Traffic Control Device, along with the outstanding warrants.  Felisha Campbell remains incarcerated at the Linn County Jail.

With regards to the June 21, 2019 shooting for which warrants were issued, Felisha Campbell is accused of conspiring with Conklin to obstruct the investigation.  Felisha Campbell was present when Conklin shot her uncle, Randal Campbell, with an air rifle that resulted in Randal Campbell’s death.  Felisha Campbell admitted to investigators that she suggested to Conklin that the shooting scene be staged to look like a suicide.  Felisha initially lied to investigators about her and Conklin’s involvement until she ultimately reported that Conklin shot Randal Campbell with an air rifle and returned to the scene to leave the air rifle behind and staging the crime as a suicide.

Disclaimer:  Any arrest information included above is based on the legal conclusion that, as with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.