Mark Becker (WHO)
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The Department of Criminal Investigation says the man who shot and killed Aplington-Parkersburg football coach Ed Thomas, was a former student and football player of Thomas'. Twenty-four-year-old Mark Becker has been charged with first degree murder in Thomas' death.
Fifty-eight-year-old Thomas, and several student-athletes, was taking part in an early-morning weight lifting session at the school when Becker entered the facility around 7:45 a.m. and shot Thomas several times with a handgun. Authorities say none of the students were threatened by Becker and he left the building.
A 911 call was placed and when medical personal arrived they transferred Thomas to a Waterloo hospital. He died a short time later.
Authorities say Mark Becker was taken into custody at a residence in rural Parkersburg shortly after the shooting. He was cooperative with authorities and is being held in the Butler County Jail.
The Parkersburg Police Department, Butler County Sheriff's Office, the DCI and the Iowa State Patrol all responded to the shooting and are involved in the investigation.
Kevin Winker with the DCI refused to speculate on Becker's motive for the shooting.
A news release from the Cedar Falls Police Department shows charges are pending against Mark Becker after a June 20th incident involving vandalism and a high speed chase. After Becker was taken into custody in that case, he was apparently transferred to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation. Cedar Falls Police planned to arrest Becker after the hospital notified he'd been released.
At a Wednesday afternoon news conference officials with the DCI said Becker was released from Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo on June 23rd, without the Cedar Falls Police Department's knowledge.
The pending charges against Becker are for criminal mischief and eluding law enforcement officials. Both are Class D felonies.
Ed Thomas was Aplington-Parkersburg High School's athletic director and head football coach. He also taught Social Studies. He began teaching at Aplington-Parkersburg in 1975.
A vigil is being held for Coach Thomas Wednesday night at 7:00 at the Aplington-Parkersburg High School football stadium, the field there is named for Thomas. If it is raining the vigil will be held in Aplington at the Aplington-Parkersburg Middle School.
Fifty-eight-year-old Thomas, and several student-athletes, was taking part in an early-morning weight lifting session at the school when Becker entered the facility around 7:45 a.m. and shot Thomas several times with a handgun. Authorities say none of the students were threatened by Becker and he left the building.
A 911 call was placed and when medical personal arrived they transferred Thomas to a Waterloo hospital. He died a short time later.
Authorities say Mark Becker was taken into custody at a residence in rural Parkersburg shortly after the shooting. He was cooperative with authorities and is being held in the Butler County Jail.
The Parkersburg Police Department, Butler County Sheriff's Office, the DCI and the Iowa State Patrol all responded to the shooting and are involved in the investigation.
Kevin Winker with the DCI refused to speculate on Becker's motive for the shooting.
A news release from the Cedar Falls Police Department shows charges are pending against Mark Becker after a June 20th incident involving vandalism and a high speed chase. After Becker was taken into custody in that case, he was apparently transferred to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation. Cedar Falls Police planned to arrest Becker after the hospital notified he'd been released.
At a Wednesday afternoon news conference officials with the DCI said Becker was released from Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo on June 23rd, without the Cedar Falls Police Department's knowledge.
The pending charges against Becker are for criminal mischief and eluding law enforcement officials. Both are Class D felonies.
Ed Thomas was Aplington-Parkersburg High School's athletic director and head football coach. He also taught Social Studies. He began teaching at Aplington-Parkersburg in 1975.
A vigil is being held for Coach Thomas Wednesday night at 7:00 at the Aplington-Parkersburg High School football stadium, the field there is named for Thomas. If it is raining the vigil will be held in Aplington at the Aplington-Parkersburg Middle School.
