SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa -- Sunday's fatal shooting of Marlan Ray Lutterman, 53, of Worthington, is still under investigation, with a Spirit Lake man being charged with felony reckless use of a firearm in connection to the shooting.
Kenneth George Neilson Jr., 55, was booked into the Dickinson County Jail Sunday night. Bond was set in court Monday at $13,000, but Neilson had not bonded out as of Monday afternoon.
While some details have been released, much of the information is still being kept quiet as the investigation moves forward.
According to witnesses, Lutterman and some friends had just parked their motorcycles by an establishment in the 1600 block of Hill Avenue when they heard a loud noise. Lutterman told his friends he thought he had been shot in the back.
At approximately 3:30 p.m., the Dickinson County 911 Center received a phone call about the shooting, and emergency personnel were dispatched. Lutterman was transported to Lakes Regional Healthcare Center by ambulance, where he later died.
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The shot allegedly came from Neilson's apartment, located approximately 200 feet away. Although authorities could not comment on the reason for the shooting because of the pending investigation, one source said Neilson claims he was cleaning his .357 Magnum when it went off. He claims his hands were greasy, and he bobbled the weapon right before it discharged.
According to Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Special Agent Don Schnitker, there were several witnesses interviewed, including friends, acquaintances and patrons of local establishments.
"Somebody has been shot, and we're going to do our best of our ability to investigate all leads fully, looking into all possible aspects," Schnitker said during a press conference Monday. "In a case of this magnitude and in any shooting, there are several leads and numerous possibilities. We will be following up on any leads that come into this office."
When asked to comment on the oddity of a shooting on a Sunday afternoon, Spirit Lake Police Chief Jeff Hanson said, "It is one of those situations you don't expect and I can't predict."
Several calls were made to 911 after the shooting, including one from Neilson, Schnitker said. Whether more charges will be filed against Neilson is still being discussed with the Dickinson County Attorney.
In the meantime, Lutterman's wife, Jill, and daughter, Hayley, just want to get to the bottom of what happened.
"This kind of thing just doesn't happen here," Jill said. "I just want to understand how it happened."
Jill described her husband as a man who loved to get out and ride his motorcycle, something he tried to do almost every weekend.
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"He would go with his friends and cruise back roads and small towns," she said. "They would come to Spirit Lake four to six times a year."
As far as she is aware, there is no connection between Neilson and her husband.
"It just goes to show, we are all vulnerable," she said. "Something like this can happen in a split-second."
Authorities are awaiting autopsy results and ballistic information as part of their investigation.
