Scott Tompkins with his godson, whose middle name is Scott. (Courtesy photo April Plyer)
Scott M. Tompkins
23 YOA
Park Ave. and Harrison St. intersection
Muscatine, IA
Muscatine County
Case # 9513656
November 29, 1995
Scott M. Tompkins, 23, was shot by an assailant(s) on November 29, 1995, while stopped to fix his windshield wipers at the intersection of Park Avenue and Harrison Street in Muscatine, Iowa.
Tompkins, 23, was found wounded at 9:43 p.m. only blocks from the Hardee’s restaurant where he worked as the assistant manager. He was transported to Muscatine General Hospital, where he was able to make a statement to police before dying.
Hardee’s employees were stunned to learn of his death, and Manager Chris Park described Tompkins as “just a real nice young man” and said he didn’t believe Tompkins had “an enemy in the world.”
Park said Tompkins had worked at the restaurant for six years but did not work the day of his murder. He said Tompkins had a real good future with the restaurant and “would do anything for anybody.”
Capt. Robert Torgerson of the Muscatine Police Department said the homicide was not related to Tompkins’ job.
Tompkins lived on the city’s south side. His car was found on Grand Avenue a block away from his body, and reports indicated a trail of blood led from the vehicle to where his body was found.
In a November 30, 2005, Muscatine Journal Letter to the Editor, Scott’s mother Sharon Tompkins wrote: “Scott wasn’t happy with the way things were going [regarding gangs in Muscatine] and tried to help where he could. I think he realized he was fighting a losing battle. Between that and the threats, he was ready to leave town.”
Courtesy photo Ron Knopik
Sharon Tompkins also asked the public to keep “eyes and ears open” and not “blindly trust everyone.”
No one has been charged with Tompkins’ murder and the investigation remains open through the Muscatine County Attorney’s office.
If you have any information about this unsolved crime please contact Iowa Cold Cases via our Contact form.
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