Officers’ Shooter Was being Discharged from Guard

LAKE CITY  (AP) - The man accused of shooting a Lake City police officer was a Wisconsin National Guard member who was in the process of being discharged.

Guard spokeswoman Jackie Guthrie says Alan Sylte Jr. had failed to report for required duty once a month. Guthrie says Sylte joined the Guard in February 2009 and served three months in Iraq this summer.

Authorities say the Hager City, Wis., man died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound Monday after he shot and wounded Lake City Officer Shawn Schneider. The officer remained in critical condition Wednesday at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester.

Sylte's uncle says he had been in touch with his nephew on Facebook. Michael Sylte says his nephew wrote that he was a "wreck" and that "if I mean anything to anyone, thanks and I love you."

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