‘It’s going to be a while’ before any arrests made

COGGON - No timetable exists for when an arrest could be made in the fatal shooting of Dylan Plotz, but Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner said Monday a conclusion will not come quickly.

'It's going to be a while, I can tell you that,” Gardner said. 'There are a lot of things in play. We're still putting together what we have, consulting with the county attorney's office.

'We'd like it to come to a conclusion quickly,” he added. 'I'm just not sure that's going to be the case.”

The sheriff's office was called to 2260 Seven Hills Road, about five miles southwest of Coggon, around 6 p.m. Wednesday for a report of a fight and shooting. There, deputies found Plotz' body in the yard. That night, witnesses or suspects found in three vehicles were taken into custody for questioning.

Gardner said 11 people were interviewed after the shooting last week. None of them remain in custody. An autopsy on Plotz, a 20-year-old from Cedar Rapids, was done last Friday at the State Medical Examiner's Office in Ankeny.

Investigators have also served warrants on vehicles and multiple properties, including the home where the shooting is alleged to have occurred.

'The investigation is leading us to a couple different directions,” Gardner said. 'We want to make sure we're thoroughly investigating every direction we're heading.”

Gardner said he's not sure if arrests will occur this week.

'I know we are still committing a large amount of our resources to this specific investigation, but we don't want to rush it,” he said.

A Celebration of Life gathering for Plotz takes place from 2 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Eagles Club, 1735 11th St. NW, Cedar Rapids. Arrangements are by the Teahen Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids.

l Comments: (319) 398-8238; lee.hermiston@thegazette.com