Iowa Man Found Guilty of Murder After Shooting Woman for Ignoring His Catcalls

A 43-year-old man in Iowa has been found guilty of first-degree murder after shooting a woman who ignored his inappropriate advances. The victim, 42-year-old Nikki Loffredo, was walking on a sidewalk around 4 a.m. on July 27, 2024, when she was shot by James Bernard Johnson.

Johnson is now facing a mandatory life sentence, with his sentencing scheduled for June 20, 2025.

What Happened on the Day of the Murder?

According to the Polk County Attorney’s Office, Johnson drove past Loffredo in his SUV and catcalled her, asking her to go to a party with him. Loffredo, a local bartender, responded:

“Who are you? Never mind, f—k off.”

Feeling disrespected, Johnson pulled out a gun and fired four shots. He later claimed he was only trying to scare her by aiming at the ground, but several bullets hit her directly. Loffredo was rushed to the hospital and died two days later from her injuries.

No Previous Connection Between the Two

Police say that Johnson and Loffredo had no prior relationship. He had seen her earlier in the day and approached her again when he spotted her later that night. His actions appeared to be completely random and unprovoked, according to prosecutors.

Johnson’s Arrest and Trial

Johnson was arrested on August 2, just a few days after the shooting. Investigators uncovered text messages between Johnson and his girlfriend, in which he confessed to having “popped” someone—slang for shooting.

During the trial, prosecutors also revealed that Johnson was under the influence of marijuana and cocaine on the day of the incident. However, it remains unclear whether this had a direct impact on his decision to shoot.

Johnson has a criminal history, including drug-related convictions, prosecutors added.

After a week-long trial, the jury took only a few hours to return a guilty verdict for first-degree murder.