Investigators still gathering evidence in Coggon homicide

COGGON — No arrests have been made in Wednesday's fatal shooting near Coggon, but Linn County investigators continue working today to piece together how one man ended up dead outside the rural Linn County home.

Col. John Stuelke of the Linn County Sheriff's Office said the entire criminal division worked through the night Wednesday into Thursday, and several investigators were at the scene of the shooting — 2260 Seven Hills Road, about five miles southwest of Coggon — throughout the afternoon Thursday.

They worked both inside and outside of the tan, two-story home that sits in a wooded area off a gravel road and across from a cornfield. The area surrounding the home had been closed last night while authorities were searching for suspects, but no roads are closed at this time, Stuelke said.

Stuelke said he couldn't comment on how many individuals have been questioned and declined to give any further information on the investigation.

Sheriff Brian Gardner said Wednesday the shooting wasn't a 'random act.'

'We do believe it was targeted,' he said Wednesday.

Gardner said deputies were called to the home just before 6 p.m. Wednesday for a person who had been shot at that location. When deputies arrived on scene, they found one person 'obviously deceased' in the yard of the residence, Gardner said.

Authorities have not yet identified the shooting victim.

Gardner said deputies interviewed several witnesses on the scene and searched for witnesses or suspects with the aid of the Cedar Rapids and Marion police departments and the Iowa State Patrol, which provided an airplane to assist the search.

'Three vehicles were located with possible suspects and/or witnesses,' Gardner said. 'Several people have been taken into custody and are being interviewed.'

Gardner said everyone believed to be part of the investigation has been found and accounted for.

'No one is at large,' he said. 'The public is not in danger.'

In addition to interviewing suspects and witnesses last night, Gardner said investigators were obtaining search warrants and hoped to have those conducted overnight. The vehicles the suspects and witnesses were found in have been impounded.

Gardner said Wednesday that weapons have been located, but he said he didn't know with certainty if they had the weapon used in the incident for certain.

'It is assumed we have the shooter or shooters in custody as we believe we have everyone that was at the residence when this occurred,' Gardner said. 'Who specifically that person is remains to be seen.'

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