No arrest yet in fatal shooting near Coggon

COGGON — A day after a Jefferson High School graduate was found shot and killed outside a home near Coggon, authorities worked throughout the day Thursday to piece together evidence in Linn County's first homicide of the year but had not announced any arrests.

The Linn County Sheriff's Office identified the man killed as Dylan Michael Plotz, 20, of Cedar Rapids.

According to an obituary published by the Teahen Funeral Home, Plotz graduated from Jefferson, enjoyed fishing and worked as a roofer. His services are pending.

An autopsy is scheduled Friday at the State Medical Examiner's Office in Ankeny, according to authorities.

Investigators worked inside and outside the tan, two-story home at 2260 Seven Hills Rd., about 5 miles southwest of Coggon where Plotz's body was found, said Col. John Stuelke of the Sheriff's Office.

In a news release, authorizes said they had executed a search warrant at the address and were in the process of executing 'multiple' other search warrants.

Sheriff Brian Gardner said deputies were called to the home just before 6 p.m. Wednesday with a report of an altercation and a shooting. They found Plotz's body in the yard, he said.

Stuelke said he couldn't comment on how many individuals have been questioned in the investigation, and he declined to provide further details.

According to public records and confirmed by a neighbor, the Zerba family lives at the home at that address.

Authorities have not released the names of anyone they believe involved in the incident.

Not a 'Random Act'

Gardner said Wednesday the shooting was not a 'random act.'

He said deputies interviewed several witnesses 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.

'Three vehicles were located with possible suspects and/or witnesses,' Gardner said, adding several people were taken in for questioning.

Some vehicles were also impounded as part of the investigation.

Gardner said Wednesday that weapons had been located, but said he didn't know for sure if they had been used in the shooting.

'Nerve-racking'

Melissa Elliot, owner of Mel's Country Cuts hair salon in Coggon, said she heard about the situation Wednesday night after her children's high school in the North-Linn school district was put on lockdown just after 7 p.m.

'They didn't tell us what it was about,' said Elliott, 42. 'I just heard later that it was a shooting.'

She said it was 'nerve-racking' until her children, ages 15 and 16, returned to their home near Troy Mills, about 8 miles west of Coggon.

'It was a little bit on the scary side,' she said.

Elliott, along with other residents in and around Coggon, said there was plenty of speculation about the shooting.

'I feel sorry for the one who did lose their life, even though I don't know the circumstances,' Elliott said. 'No one should lose their life that way. I hope (the authorities) get to the bottom of this and get who deserves to be behind bars.'

Elliott described Coggon, population 650, as a tight-knit community where 'everybody looks out for one another.'