Hunter
10/22/21
The man shot while driving his car eastbound on Highway 6 Sunday night has been identified as a Marine who was heading to Japan at the end of the month.
The Cedar Rapids Gazette says 20-year-old Gabriel Heefner was in Iowa City to visit his grandparents this weekend and had just left Panda Express to pick up food for them when he was shot in the temple. His vehicle crashed into the median west of the intersection with Sycamore Street.
According to Heefner’s father, the bullet that hit him entered through the driver’s side window, which was slightly open. No other bullets hit the vehicle.
Iowa City Police Friday say they’ve identified the person believed to be responsible for Heefner’s injury, but have not released that person’s name. Authorities believe the shooting was unintentional , and say there is no threat to public safety.
Heefner, a lance corporal, was being deployed to Okinawa for a three-year stint to serve as a Marine in the communication field.
He remains in critical condition at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. A GoFundMe account under “Gabe Heefner” is about halfway to its $40,000 goal.
No arrests have been made at this time, and the investigation is ongoing. Police say no further information will be released at this time.
