25-year-old Iowa woman killed by mystery bullet that struck her in the neck as she drove home from work
A 25-year-old woman from Iowa, Micalla Rettinger, was killed while she was driving home from work after a bullet tore through the driver's window, the Waterloo police revealed.
Rettinger was in the car along with two other passengers around 2.30 am on Sunday when she was struck by the bullet in her neck. One of the other passengers in the car, 32-year-old Adam Kimball was injured and is currently being treated at the University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City. The police shared that the third passenger was unhurt in the incident.
Authorities released a statement which read, "There is nothing to indicate the victims, in this case, were in any way involved in any activity that would have caused them to be targeted in this manner."
Rettinger had graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in biology in 2016 and was also a member of the softball team. The university's director of athletics, David Harris shared, "We are devastated to learn of the senseless death of Micalla Rettinger. This news is heartbreaking to our softball team, UNI Athletics and the entire campus. Our thoughts and prayers are with Micalla's family and friends."
Upon graduating from the Park Hill High School in Kansas City, Rettinger had become an "outstanding outfielder for the Panthers," as a news release in the university stated. When Rettinger was in her junior and senior years, she had earned second-team Missouri Valley All-Conference honors.
Head softball coach Ryan Jacobs said in a statement, "I am devastated. KK was a pretty special kid to us. I can still see the smile on her face and I remember the way she always thought of other people first in a genuine way. When we had youth camps, she was the one that all of the kids on campus would be drawn to."
"This is a huge loss to our team and everyone that knew her," he added. Before the home season finale, the Northern Iowa softball team shared that they would honor Rettinger with a moment of silence.
Waterloo police have requested the public's help in identifying anyone who was involved in "shooting or hunting (legal or illegal) in the area of the Cedar River between the Highway 218 Bridge and the Conger Ave. Bridge." They have offered a $7,000 reward for any information regarding Rettinger's killer.
"We are also asking anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity in this area or has a trail/surveillance camera in this area to contact the Waterloo Police Department Investigations Division at 319-291-4340, Option 7," the Waterloo department shared.