A Fairbank man faces first-degree murder charges after allegedly shooting his son in the head as the son watched television.
Daniel Gail Niebuhr, 59, of Fairbank was arrested Friday evening by the Bremer County Sheriff’s office and charged with first-degree murder in the death of his son, Brock Daniel Niebuhr, 36, of Dike.
In a statement released Sunday, Bremer County Sheriff Dan Pickett said his office received a 911 call about 5:24 p.m. Friday, reporting “that someone was hurt bad, maybe with a knife, at 2682 Vine Ave. a rural address outside of Fairbank.”
Deputy sheriffs and first responders responded to the residence and found the lifeless body of Brock Daniel Niebuhr, 36, of Dike, who “appeared to have suffered from a gunshot wound to the head,” according to the criminal complaint filed by the sheriff’s office.
“First responders made contact with Daniel Gail Niebuhr and asked him what was going on, and Niebuhr responded that he had shot his son,” according to the complaint.
During a subsequent interview, the elder Niebuhr “admitted to walking up behind Brock and shooting him in the head while Brock was sitting on the couch, watching TV,” the complaint said.
Brock Niebuhr’s body was transported to the Iowa office of the State Medical Examiner for autopsy, according to Pickett. He said the investigation is ongoing.
The Bremer County Sheriff’s office was assisted by the Fairbank Ambulance Service, Iowa State Patrol and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
