Another Iraq veteran kills himself after shooting police officer

UPDATE: Iraq War veteran ID’d as shooter
LAKE CITY — A police officer remains in critical condition after being shot in the head Monday morning, and the shooter, an Iraq War veteran, is dead.

By: Sarah Gorvin and Danielle Nordine, The Republican Eagle

LAKE CITY — A police officer remains in critical condition after being shot in the head Monday morning, and the shooter, an Iraq War veteran, is dead.

Alan J. Sylte Jr., 25, of Hager City shot Lake City police officer Shawn Schneider, 32, at 618 W. Lyon Ave. when Schneider and another officer responded to a reported domestic involving a handgun, Wabasha County Sheriff's Office said.

Sylte later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, the Mayo Clinic Medical Examiner’s Office reported Tuesday after a preliminary autopsy

Schneider was taken to Mayo Clinic Health System in Lake City before being airlifted to St. Marys Hospital in Rochester. Lake City Police Chief Gary Majchrzak said he visited the hospital Monday and, while Schneider is not talking, there are reports he is responsive.

“He’s holding his own. He’s got a lot of support over there,” Majchrzak said.
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Lake City shooter was Iraq war vet facing discharge
Article by: PAM LOUWAGIE , Star Tribune Updated: December 20, 2011 - 11:06 PM
Lake City officer shot Monday remained in critical condition.

The man accused of critically wounding a Lake City police officer, resulting in a dramatic daylong lockdown Monday, was a despondent Iraq war veteran who was being discharged from the Wisconsin National Guard.

Alan J. Sylte Jr. wrote cryptic messages on his Facebook page Sunday, according to his uncle Michael Sylte. In one message, Alan Sylte said he was a "wreck" and in another he wrote: "if I mean anything to anyone, thanks and I love you."

Tuesday evening, about 300 residents and officers from communities from Minneapolis to Rochester to Lake City gathered at a candlelight prayer vigil outside the Rochester hospital where officer Shawn Schneider, 32, was fighting for his life. The husband and father of three remained in critical condition at St. Marys Hospital.

Officers were called about an argument between Sylte and a woman about 8:30 a.m. The woman escaped unharmed before Sylte fired at officer Schneider. Authorities announced about 6:30 p.m. that Sylte, of Hager City, Wis., had been found dead inside the house. Authorities said Tuesday that a preliminary autopsy shows he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head.

Michael Sylte said he hadn't seen his nephew in years, but had been in contact with him through the social networking site. He said he was trying to figure out what might have gone through his nephew's head. "Our prayers definitely go out to the family of the police officer," Michael Sylte said.
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December 7th, North Carolina
Iraq veteran commits suicide after shooting deputy
Man who shot deputy underwent change in Iraq


This happened in Las Vegas

Loved ones recall vet's struggle with PTSD
BY KEITH ROGERS
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Posted: Dec. 21, 2011
In his mind, Stanley Gibson rode down the Highway of Death time and time again until that chilly December night when he came to a dead end.

Gibson, a 43-year-old disabled Gulf War veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, was shot dead by Las Vegas police in the early morning of Dec. 12. He was shot in the back of his head "with the same damn gun," Rudy Gibson said, describing the AR-15, the civilian version of the military's M-16 assault rifle.

That was the same weapon that Stanley took with him 20 years ago when they were both deployed in Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Storm.

Rudy came home with experience as a combat engineer who fixed radios in tanks and tested global positioning gear.

Stanley came home with memories that gave him a serious case of post-traumatic stress disorder as well as cancer he blamed on exposure to depleted uranium shells used in combat.

He was let down by the "system," according to his wife, Rondha, and brother, Rudy, who told the Review-Journal on Friday about the battle he was fighting.

In the end, his death has made a case that steps need to be taken to prevent other veterans like him from falling through the cracks of the VA's health care system and the Police Department that was supposed to protect him.
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