Cousin of Texas governor killed by deputies [View All]

[Ian David]

Source: Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas — Authorities are investigating the shooting death of a cousin of Texas Gov. Rick Perry in an exchange of gunfire with sheriff's deputies.

An attorney for Larry Don Wheeler's estate says the 74-year-old north Texas man was on his backyard deck Saturday night at his Montague (mahn-TAYG') County home. David Gossom said Thursday that's when deputies responded to a disturbance call.

Montague County District Attorney Jack McGaughey (muh-GOY') says Wheeler was holding a shotgun and an officer was shot in the hand. No other details have been released, and an autopsy is pending.

Perry's office wouldn't elaborate on his relationship with Wheeler, a retired social worker listed as a member of the governor's 2006 re-election campaign steering committee.

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MONTAGUE COUNTY, TEXAS (BNO NEWS) – Deputies with the Montague County Sheriff's Department have shot and killed a cousin of Texas Governor Rick Perry, officials told BNO News on Thursday.

The cousin was identified as 74-year-old Larry Don Wheeler. Montague County District Attorney Jack McGaughey told BNO News that sheriff's deputies initially responded to a 911 call of shots fired at his home at a Montague County country club on Saturday night.

When two deputies arrived on the scene, Wheeler, who was sitting on his backyard deck, pointed a shotgun at the officers and opened fire. One officer sustained a wound to his hand from the shots, McGaughey said. The officers then returned fire, and fatally shot Wheeler.

It was not immediately clear as to why Wheeler may have decided to open fire. The Texas Rangers, and an investigator from the Montague County District Attorney's Office is investigating the case. McGaughey said the sheriff's department is not involved in the investigation.


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