Texas Governor’s Cousin Dies In Gunfire Exchange With Deputies
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Texas Governor’s Cousin Dies In Gunfire Exchange With Deputies
A cousin of Texas Gov. Rick Perry has died in a mysterious exchange of gunfire with sheriff’s deputies.
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AUSTIN (October 1, 2009)—Texas Rangers are investigating after a cousin of Texas Gov. Rick Perry was shot and killed over the weekend in his backyard during an exchange of gunfire with sheriff's deputies.

Perry said Thursday the death is tragic but stresses that he hardly knew Larry Don Wheeler, 74, even though Wheeler was listed as a member of Perry's 2006 re-election steering committee.

"I'm not sure I would pick him out of a lineup,” Perry said.

Perry says Wheeler was a distant cousin on his grandmother's side.

A family attorney said Wheeler, who was a retired social worker was sitting on his backyard deck Saturday night at his home at a Montague County country club when two sheriff's deputies showed up in response to a disturbance call.

Sheriff Paul Cunningham says his department received a report of a man with a shotgun.

What happened next is unclear and under investigation.

After an exchange of gunfire, Wheeler was dead and a deputy was shot in the hand.

An autopsy is pending.


Latest Comments

Posted by: Cousin Location: TX on Oct 2, 2009 at 12:12 PM

Well, Bonnie Parker was my cousin, but I don't feel at all responsble for her actions... :) As for knowing EVERYONE on his campaign team... There's no way he could know them all~~cousins or not.
Posted by: LN Location: Robinson on Oct 2, 2009 at 11:43 AM

Hutchison, a real woman? You have got to be kidding. She may be a decent Senator, but only decent. Remember the Spendulus plan? The one she put a bunch of pork in? The one she voted against? Then the one she talked up about all the goodies she got for Texas? If she wanted to get the goodies she should at least have voted for the bill so she could be honest about it. Instead she is trying to play both sides of the spectrum, which shows no leadership or ability to do the right thing, even when everyone is looking.
Posted by: so what! Location: killeen on Oct 2, 2009 at 10:14 AM

so what he was in HIS backyard with a shotgun? Please follow up with exact details on this developing story. Family is family, doesn't matter if you personally know them or not. Gov. Perry cannot be judged by what happened here.
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