Friends remember good Samaritan fatally shot helping a driver

CATAWBA COUNTY, NC (WBTV) - A good Samaritan, who was fatally shot while trying to help a driver, has been identified.

According to the Catawba County Sheriff, a driver spun out on ice along Mathis Church Road Friday night. Neighbors who overheard the wreck, went out to check on the incident.

The driver of a truck, later identified as Jefferson Heavner, came up on the incident and pulled over the help the driver, later identified as 27-year-old Marvin Jacob Lee, of Claremont.

According to the sheriff, Lee was acting odd and belligerent. The neighbors and Heavner were talking about calling police when Lee apparently overheard them, jumped out of the car and shot Heavner.

When Heavner fell to the ground, Lee fired several more shots. According to the sheriff, Heavner died from his injuries.

When deputies arrived at the scene, Lee reportedly refused to get out of the car. An armored car was called to the scene and deputies had to approach the vehicle with shields before Lee would get out of the car.

When he was taken into custody, the sheriff says Lee still had the pistol on him. Lee was arrested and charged with murder.

Kristie Ward, a friend of the victim, said she learned of Heavner's death Friday night. She said Heavner had a child and will be missed greatly.

"He was just at my house not even a month ago. He told me 'I love you sis, bye.'"

Ward didn't realize she would be saying goodbye to Heavner forever.

"All he loved to do was go mudding, hunting, fishing, he was just all-around great person," Ward explained.

Several people said they heard the shots Friday night.

"It sounded like four or five shots- boom, boom, boom, boom," said neighbor Annette Medlin.

Ward said she hopes the the suspect is punished for the alleged incident, "I hope that he gets what he deserves. I hope he does go to prison for this."

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