Lake City officer's shooter would have faced first-degree murder charges

Alan Sylte would face first-degree murder charges had he not killed himself after shooting a Lake City police officer who later died, the Wabasha County Attorney’s Office announced today.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety released the attorney’s statement along with findings based on a Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigation into the 2011 death of officer Shawn Schneider.

The office would have forwarded charges of first-degree murder of a peace officer and premeditated first-degree murder to a Wabasha County grand jury.

Sylte shot Schneider Dec. 19 as two officers responded to a domestic call involving a handgun at 618 West Lyon Ave. After Schneider was shot, law enforcement from seven agencies surrounded the home. Inside, they found Alan J. Sylte Jr., 25, Hager City, dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The weapon was the same one used to shoot Officer Schneider. Officer Schneider died December 30, 2011 as a result of his injuries.

For more on the story, see the Aug. 1 print edition.

Tags: crime and courts, lake city, crime, minnesota