A Good Samaritan was shot and killed in Catawba County, North Carolina on Friday by the drunk driver he had stopped to help out.
Jefferson Heavner, 27, had pulled up in his pick-up truck to help the suspect, Marvin Jacob Lee, when Lee's car became stuck in the snow as the historic snowstorm bore down on the area.
Several other passing motorists had also stopped to assist Lee but when the group realized that Lee was intoxicated, Heavner decided to call the police and let them handle the situation. According to Catawba County Sheriff Coy Reid, Lee became belligerent, pulled out a gun, and opened fire on the group.
As the group of would-be assisters scattered, Heavner was hit by one of the shots, said Reid. 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.
No one else was injured in the incident, according to authorities.
As of Sunday, a GoFundMe page that aimed to raise $5,000 for funeral expenses and assistance for Heavner's surviving 17-month-old son has eclipsed $14,000 in one day.
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.