Carroll shooting leaves Jefferson man in life-threatening condition

By DOUGLAS BURNS
d.burns@carrollspaper.com

A 33-year-old Jefferson man was in serious condition earlier this morning after being shot once in the head during an encounter at the Fairview Village Apartments in Carroll.

The case is being investigated on a variety of fronts. The man sustained a shot from a semi-automatic handgun to the back of his head and was in “life-threatening” condition, authorities said.

“The person who brought the weapon is the one who was injured,” said Carroll Police Chief Brad Burke. “The potential charges right now range anywhere from an assault to a burglary to a robbery. We are trying to get all the witness statements completed.”
Self defense could have factored into the shooting, Burke said.

No charges have been filed, and police, who are working the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, have not released the names of any parties involved.

The shooting occurred just before 1 a.m. Police received two 911 calls within seconds, one reporting a man in the hallway attempting to break into a unit in the complex, 512 E. 18th St.
An officer at St. John’s Lutheran Church on regular patrol arrived within 30 seconds.
The Jefferson man was taken by air ambulance from St. Anthony Regional Hospital to the University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City.

“He was alert and breathing when we arrived there,” Burke said. “He looked in bad shape. He may or may not survive.”

School officials alerted parents as the apartment complex is across the street from Fairview Elementary School.
Officials did not cancel school.
Burke said there is no ongoing threat to the public.