Autopsy: Morrison Co. hostage-taker was shot 7 times
by The Associated Press

SAINT PAUL -- An autopsy has revealed that a man who tried to hold several Morrison County officials hostage during a board meeting this week died of multiple gunshot wounds.

The Ramsey County Medical Examiner says 60-year-old Gordon Wheeler Sr. was shot seven times during a confrontation with officers responding to the incident.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which is investigating, says 20 rounds were fired by three officers. Wheeler was fatally wounded Tuesday after the officers responded and died later at a hospital.

No one else was injured, and the BCA says a first look at Wheeler's handgun indicates that it was never fired.

Dave Bjerga (BYEER'-guh), the BCA's assistant superintendent, says in a news release that the officers demanded that Wheeler drop his weapon. Bjerga says Wheeler instead pointed the gun at the officers.