On a summer afternoon in Waterloo, Iowa, a burst of gunfire shattered the quiet, tragically ending the life of Fredrick Dewayne Webber, a 33-year-old Black / African American man. On July 14, 2017, at approximately 3:55 p.m., Webber was a passenger in a black sport utility vehicle when another vehicle pulled alongside and an occupant opened fire. The shooting occurred in the 100 block of Center Street.
Webber was struck by the gunfire and was later rushed to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The driver of the SUV, identified as 20-year-old Robert Coffer, was also wounded in the attack. Despite his injuries, Coffer managed to drive about seven blocks from the scene of the shooting to a home at the corner of Ackermant and West Arlington streets in a desperate search for help. A neighbor reported that the injured driver ran into the house, while Webber remained in the vehicle. The SUV had sustained front-end damage, its airbags were deployed, and the front windshield on the driver's side was shattered. Coffer was also transported to the hospital and was expected to survive.
In the wake of the shooting, Waterloo police began a homicide investigation. However, the case remains unsolved, with no arrests made and no suspects publicly identified. Authorities have appealed to the public for any information that could lead to an arrest, with the possibility of a cash reward.
Fredrick "Dewayne" Webber was a father of three who resided in Waterloo. He was remembered as a kind and even-tempered man who found joy in helping others and spending time with his family, frequently taking his children to the park. He worked as a Crew Leader/Trainer at Taco Bell and dreamed of one day opening his own tattooing business. His death left a void in the lives of his family, including his mother, grandmother, three children, and numerous siblings and other relatives.
