Review concludes suspect shot Minn. police officer - WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |

WABASHA, Minnesota (WXOW) - The Wabasha County Attorney's office says if the man suspected of fatally shooting a Minnesota police officer last December had lived, he would have faced first-degree murder charges.

The prosecutor's office reviewed the state crime lab's investigation into the death of Lake City police Officer Shawn Schneider.

Schneider was shot outside a Lake City home on Dec. 19, after he and another officer responded to a domestic dispute. Schneider was able to get the woman inside the home to safety as the shooting occured.

Authorities say the shooting suspect - 25-year-old Alan Sylte, Jr. of Hager City, Wis. - then retreated into the home.  After a standoff for several hours involving officers from seven different jurisdictions, it was discovered that Sylte had killed himself inside the home.

Forensic reports from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension showed the gun used to shoot Schneider was determined to be the same weapon Sylte used to kill himself.

Officer Schneider died on December 30th of his injuries.

According to the review, if Sylte were alive charges of first-degree murder would have been submitted to a Wabasha County grand jury.

At the end of the review, Assistant Wabasha County Attorney Karrie S. Kelly states that if Sylte had lived, he would have been convicted of the charges.