In the quiet city of Council Bluffs, Iowa, the life of Gary Fredrick, a 62-year-old Caucasian male, came to a sudden and violent end on the evening of December 17, 2023. What initially appeared to be a straightforward homicide investigation would unravel into a more complex story involving claims of self-defense and a separate criminal enterprise.
That Sunday evening, police were called to a residence on Harrison Street following reports of a shooting.
Upon arrival, they discovered Fredrick on the floor, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a nearby medical center, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Witnesses at the scene identified 27-year-old Mensah Olloway of Omaha as the individual who fired the shots. According to their accounts, a disturbance had broken out after Fredrick arrived at the home. During the altercation, Olloway allegedly produced a handgun and fired several rounds at Fredrick before fleeing the scene. The Council Bluffs Police Department quickly identified Olloway as a person of interest and sought public assistance in locating him.
The investigation took a significant turn when authorities later determined that the shooting was an act of self-defense. It was reported that Fredrick had entered the residence armed with a baseball bat containing nails and a stun gun, and had assaulted and threatened several women inside. In response to this attack, Olloway, who was also present, shot Fredrick.
While the homicide investigation was concluded with the self-defense determination, the case expanded to include other serious crimes. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting led authorities to uncover alleged sex trafficking and robbery activities. Subsequently, Mensah Olloway, along with three other individuals, Rosella Weaver, Dakota Grund, and Dylan Elrod, were indicted on federal charges related to sex trafficking and armed robberies that had occurred in the days leading up to Fredrick's death. Although Olloway was not charged with murder, he faced a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm, as the gun used in the shooting was reported stolen. State prosecutors later dismissed this charge to allow the federal case to proceed.
