St. Joseph Man Charged in Estranged Wife Shooting

ST. CLOUD -- A St. Joseph man is being held on $2,000,000 unconditional bail after a Saturday incident where he is accused of ramming his estranged's wife's SUV with his pickup and shooting at her.

Sixty-six-year-old Gary Vogt has been charged with attempted first degree murder - premeditation and attempted first degree murder - with intent - while committing a felony.

According to the criminal complaint, Vogt's estranged wife was traveling on Stearns County Road 2 just before 10:00 a.m., when Vogt approached her going in the opposite direction. Vogt allegedly turned around and pulled up to the 63-year-old woman's vehicle and told her to pull over. She refused. That's when witnesses say Vogt swerved and hit the woman's SUV numerous times and fired a gun toward her vehicle.

Vogt is accused of ultimately causing her to drive off the road and come to rest in the opposite lane of traffic on County Road 4. Vogt allegedly then fired another shot into her vehicle, striking her in the back.

The St. Joseph man was later stopped and arrested near the Sauk Rapids Bridge. Records show he told police he had "snapped." He also told a witness earlier in the day he was depressed that his wife had left him, that he was upset she had filed a Harassment Restraining Order against him and was thinking about leaving the state but wanted to talk to her first.

Vogt was booked into the Stearns County Jail where he is awaiting a November 3rd court appearance.

The victim was treated a head wound and a bullet wound to her back.