Lang
11/23/21
The Iowa City man accused of accidentally shooting and seriously injuring a Marine while shooting an air rifle at squirrels on his property has allegedly admitted to shooting and killing dozens of the animals in the month leading up to the incident.
According to newly-released documents, 69-year-old Philip Olson told investigators that he had shot and killed 38 squirrels on and near his Brookwood Drive property between September 17th and October 16th. On the night of October 17th, Olson was shooting at a squirrel in his backyard with a .22 caliber air rifle when the pellet hit a passing car on Highway 6, which runs along the south border of Olson’s backyard. The driver of the vehicle, 20-year-old lance corporal Gabe Heefner, was struck in the head and crashed his vehicle, causing life-threatening injuries.
Iowa Code does not define such guns as firearms or dangerous weapons. Therefore, Olson is accused only of violating City Code that prohibits the discharge of air rifles within city limits. A court date is set for December 9th.
The state Department of Natural Resources has charged Olson with hunting without a license, hunting without a habitat fee, unlawful take or attempt to take squirrels, and shooting a rifle over a highway.
Heefner’s family is joining with the Johnson County Attorney’s Office and Iowa City Police, committing to work towards legislative change to categorize air rifles as firearms. The family is updating Heefner’s recovery efforts on a GoFundMe page.