This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2006, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Chesapeake, Va., police said today they have no new leads in the Monday night shooting death of 21-year-old Morgan Young, a missionary from Bountiful, Utah.
"Right now we're just hoping the public's assistance is going to help us out identifying the suspect," said police spokeswoman Christine Golden.
About 6 p.m., a male suspect approached the two Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints missionaries, Young and Joshua Heidbrink, 19, of Greeley, Colo., and shot them for unknown reasons.
The gunman, who is believed to be 5 feet 10 inches tall, was last seen wearing a black-hooded sweatshirt and denim jeans. Police believe he may live in the area because of his familiarity with back streets.
"I think it's just a matter of time before we figure out who he is," Golden said.
Richard Heidbrink, Joshua Heidbrink's father, told the Denver Rocky Mountain News that his son and Young witnessed a violent argument between two men around 4 p.m. at the 2600 block of Elkhart St. in the Deep Creek section of Chesapeake.
One man pulled out a gun and shot the other man, who fell to the ground. The gunman then shot at the missionaries, Heidbrink told the newspaper.
Golden would only say that investigators are "looking into that theory," but that the shooting was not determined to be a hate crime.
After the shooting, Heidbrink was able to run to nearby Charity House, a nursing home, at 2614 Elkhart St., for help, she said.
Richard Heidbrink also told The Rocky Mountain News his son was "in good shape" Monday night at Norfolk General Hospital and was out of critical care.
On his way to Virginia Tuesday afternoon, Richard Heidbrink told The Salt Lake Tribune his son remained in stable condition. However, he declined to further talk about the shooting.
"We don't have a comment at this point," he said.
In a news release, the LDS Church expressed its sympathy to Young and Heidbrink's families.
"We pray that they will find peace and comfort in the promises of the Lord concerning those who give their lives in His service."
Bud Williams, 85, Young's maternal grandfather, was excited to see his grandson, whose mission was only two months shy of being complete.
"The whole family went to Virginia together. They hoped to get there before he died," said Williams, who began to weep in his Bountiful home.
Nearby was a portrait of Young with his parents and siblings.
"Morgan was a good kid," Williams said. He was a "comfortable and friendly person ... he was feeling good about what he was doing."
Young had plans to attend Brigham Young University, having studied at Weber State before his mission. For Williams, who grew up during the Great Depression, it's important his grandchildren get an education.
"I figured I'd go before everyone, but I just keep going," Williams said. Morgan's untimely death "is just like getting hit in the head."