Gary M. Wheeler

Deadly force

Wheeler, driving a stolen pickup, allegedly rammed Officer T.J. Bird's cruiser after Bird cut him off. When Wheeler reversed the truck to continue, Bird got out of his cruiser and approached the truck with his gun drawn. Bird got into the passenger side while the tires were spinning on ice and ordered Wheeler out of the truck. Wheeler complied initially, but as Bird began to walk around the front of the truck, Wheeler jumped back in and hit the accelerator. Bird fired through the windshield from the side of the truck and again through the open passenger door, killing Wheeler.