Good Samaritan shot dead by stranded driver that he stopped to help after his car spun out on icy road was a single dad to a one-year-old son

The Good Samaritan who was allegedly shot dead by the stranded driver he had stopped to help was a single father to a one-year-old son.

Jefferson Heavner, 26, of Newton, was killed after he went to aid a man whose car had spun out on an icy road in North Carolina on Friday afternoon.

Marvin Jacob Lee, of Claremont, has been charged with Heavner’s murder. Police said Lee, 27, struck Heavner once then stood over his body and walked over to him and shot him again 'numerous times'.

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Jefferson Heavner with his 17-month-old-son. The single dad was allegedly shot dead by a stranded driver he had stopped to help

Heavner’s family and friends have branded the tragedy a ‘senseless crime’.

According to a GoFundMe page to raise funds for funeral costs and to care for his son, Heaver was described ‘always willing to help’.

A post on the page, which has raised nearly $10,000 in just a day, reads: ‘This was a senseless crime that took a son, brother and father from a family that loves him dearly.

‘Jefferson was always willing to help out in situations like this, especially during the snow and ice that has hit the NC roads.’

It adds: ‘Jefferson who was a single dad leaves behind a 17-month-old son that will also require care and continued support.

‘Please know that the family greatly appreciates all of the thoughts, prayers and love that have been and continue to be offered to them.’ 

Police said Lee killed 26-year-old Jefferson Heavner (pictured on Facebook), who was among a group of people attempting to help the stranded driver

Jesse Danielle Heavner has also taken to social media to express her heartbreak at her brother’s death.

In the tribute, she reminisced about all the times the siblings and their late father used to pull cars out of ditches in bad weather.

Marvin Jacob Lee, 27, has been charged with murder after he allegedly shot Heavner multiple times

'I'd thought of you several times today while driving the roads of Asheville and seeing cars in ditches, thinking of old times with daddy,' she wrote.

'Aside from off-roading in the snow that was always our favorite part.

'Never in a million years would I have dreamed that ironically you were lying cold, gunned by a murderer who you had just attempted to help like we always did,' she added.

The tragedy occurred after Lee’s car had become stuck off Mathis Church Road in Catawba County at around 5.20pm, police said.

Heavner was one of three men who had tried to help him along with neighbors and the occupants of a passing truck.

But the group decided to call police for assistance when Lee became belligerent, according to Sheriff Coy Reid.

He told the Charlotte Observer: 'They thought he was drunk or on dope and said ‘Let's just call the law and let them deal with it’.’

When Lee heard them calling the police he took out an automatic pistol and began shooting at the group – managing to hit Heavner.

After then shooting him again multiple times, Lee returned to his car, which was still stuck.

Officers arrived on the scene and demanded Lee to get out of the car. When he didn't, a SWAT team arrived and found that he was passed out, according to Reid.

He added that Lee woke up as he was being physically pulled out of the car by SWAT members and tried to resist.

The shooting remains under investigation. According to WSOC, Lee is set to appear in court on Monday.

Police said Lee returned to his car (pictured), which was still stuck, after he struck Heavner once and then shot him again multiple times

Officers arrived on the scene and demanded Lee to get out of the car. When he did not a SWAT team arrived and physically pulled him out of the car when it was discovered he was passed out