Family: Samaritan shot while helping driver in blizzard had infant son
NEWTON, N.C. -- Relatives say a man shot to death by a motorist he tried to assist in western North Carolina leaves behind an infant son.
The shooting happened Friday in Catawba County during the first big blizzard to hit the East Coast of 2016. Sheriff Coy Reid said in a phone interview with the Associated Press a driver who spun out on ice became belligerent and began firing after people approached to help.
Jefferson Heavner, who lived in the area, drove up in his pickup truck with a couple of people to see if they could help. The sheriff said Heavner and the others could tell that Lee was intoxicated and decided to call authorities instead of pushing his car out. Lee then became belligerent.
"They were going to let the cops handle it, and that's when he pulled a pistol and started shooting," Reid said.
The would-be Good Samaritans ran away, but a bullet hit Heavner and knocked him down, Reid said.
The sheriff said Lee walked over and fired several shots at Heavner while he was on the ground.
Lee then got back in his car. When deputies arrived, he refused to obey commands, so an armored truck and tactical team were called, Reid said. The suspect continued to resist, but was taken into custody. Reid said Lee had the pistol with him when he was arrested.
A fundraising Web page set up by relatives of Heavner, a 26-year-old Newton resident, says he was the father of a 17-month-old son. It had raised about $10,000 by Sunday for funeral expenses and to support the boy.
Jessica Heavner, the victim's sister, told The Charlotte Observer that her brother was always willing to help others, such as offering jumper cables when someone's car wouldn't start at Wal-Mart.
"Pretty much the irony is he went out of this world doing what he loved to do: helping people," she said.
She said her brother grew up in Catawba County and loved to hunt and work on cars. He was recently laid off from a job as a lineman for a cable television provider.
Kristie Ward, a friend of the victim, told CBS affiliate WBTV she learned of Heavner's death Friday night.
"He was just at my house not even a month ago. He told me 'I love you sis, bye,'" she told the station.
Ward didn't realize she would be saying goodbye to Heavner forever.
Ward said she hopes the suspect is punished for the incident: "I hope that he gets what he deserves. I hope he does go to prison for this."
Jail records show Lee was held without bond on a murder charge at the Catawba County jail Sunday. Reid said he didn't know if the Claremont resident had an attorney, but he may be appointed one when he appears in court Monday.