A northwest Iowa man has died from a gunshot that hit him in the head Sunday night. Fifty-year-old Levi Hofer of Rock Rapids died in the 3 P.M. hour on Tuesday at a Sioux Falls, South Dakota hospital. His girlfriend, 52-year-old Laura Lowe of Rock Rapids is accused of attempted murder.
According to Lyon County Sheriff Blythe Bloememdaal, now that the victim has died, he’ll be speaking with County Attorney Carl Peterson about changing the charge from attempted murder to murder. The Sheriff’s Office reports they received a 9-1-1 call to the residence on Tama Street in Rock Rapids on Sunday night.
They found Lowe with injuries, Hofer with a gunshot wound to the head, and the man who lives in their basement — 60-year-old Larry Griffen, uninjured. The sheriff says Lowe and Hofer were very intoxicated. Lowe is being held in the Lyon County Jail on a $50,000 cash or surety bond. Griffen is also being held, but as a material witness to a felony.
By Scott Van Aartsen, KIWA, Sheldon