• Font Size    

WCCO Crime Resources

Welcome To The Crime Scene Corner
E-mail

Close Window E-mail This Page

Charges: 'Obsession' Led To Double Murder Attempt

Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

Send E-mail

   Print     Share +
Jun 9, 2008 4:23 pm US/Central

Charges: 'Obsession' Led To Double Murder Attempt

FARMINGTON, Minn. (WCCO) ― Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom said attempted murder and attempted burglary charges have been filed against 49-year-old Jerry Lee Wiley of Farmington, Minn. in relation to a shooting in Empire Township early Saturday morning.

Backstrom said police responded at around 12:44 a.m. that morning to a 911 call reporting shots being fired at a home on 201st Street in Empire Township.

Police said they interviewed a woman who told them she had a relationship with Wiley for about a year, but they were good friends. She said Wiley seemed to be romantically obsessed with her and would not leave her alone, having followed her and called repeatedly on her cell phone. She said that the day before the shooting, Wiley had tried to force his way into her hotel room, but that she convinced him to leave.

Later that evening, she and her boyfriend were staying in the basement of her sister's home, according to Backstrom. At some point she awoke to see Wiley standing and pointing a handgun at them. She said Wiley pointed it at her and pulled the trigger, but the gun failed to fire. The same then happened when he pointed it at her boyfriend. Wiley continued to threaten them both.

According to the report, Wiley then removed the magazine from the handgun and reinserted it. On the next attempt, he fired the gun at the woman, but missed. Her boyfriend convinced Wiley to stop shooting at them. While he walked Wiley back to his car, the woman called police. The Dakota County Swat Team arrested Wiley several hours later.

"This appears to be another case of domestic-related violence that could have easily resulted in death. Fortunately neither of the victims were physically injured during the attack," said Backstrom.

Wiley's bail was set at $200,000 and his next court appearance will be on June 23.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.