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20 shots fired at Wheeler
Staff Writer When Gordon Kenneth Wheeler Sr. wouldn't drop his gun as ordered by law enforcement officers during a hostage standoff Tuesday at the Morrison County Government Center, three officers fired a total of 20 rounds at Wheeler, striking him seven times.
Those findings were released Thursday by the Ramsey County medical examiner's officer, which on Wednesday performed an autopsy on Wheeler, 60, of Little Falls.
Through witness accounts, Wheeler was observed cocking the hammer on the semi-automatic handgun while he approached the board table. When recovered by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension crime scene team, the gun had four live rounds of ammunition in the magazine and one live round in the chamber. Preliminary examination of the gun indicated it had not been fired. When Wheeler was transported to the hospital, handcuffs and a second handgun were found in his possession.
"Witnesses and officers indicated that Wheeler failed to comply with several commands from the officers to drop his weapon, and instead he pointed his weapon in the officers' direction," said Dave Bjerga, assistant superintendent for BCA. "All three officers who fired their weapons did so simultaneously, according to witnesses."
Officers responded to the county commissioner's board room at the Morrison County Government Center about 10 a.m. Tuesday after being informed that Wheeler - who for years has feuded with county officials regarding his adult-oriented businesses - had brandished a gun at the commission's regular meeting and was holding about 10 people hostage.
The officers who fired their weapons have been identified as State Patrol Trooper Kaj Meinhardt, Morrison County Sheriff Michel Wetzel and Morrison County Sheriff's Lt. Bruce Motes. Meinhardt and Motes were placed on paid administrative leave by their departments following the event, which is standard procedure. There is no provision in law for placing an elected official, such as the sheriff, on administrative leave. Wetzel has said that though he won't take leave from his work, he will not be involved in any part of the investigation.
The BCA continued to investigate the incident Thursday. Evidence has been submitted to the forensic laboratory for analysis and investigators also are awaiting toxicology results from the autopsy.
Bjerga said the completed investigation will be forwarded to the state attorney general's office for determination on whether the officers actions were justified.
"It could take several weeks, but once we turn over all our information they'll render their decision or call a grand jury," to investigate the shooting, Bjerga said.
Bjerga also noted there were video and audio recordings made of the meeting and Wheeler's confrontation with the county board and with officers that will be released after the attorney general's office closes its investigation.
MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.
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