David Unze

dunze@stcloudtimes.com

The man accused of shooting his wife Saturday after chasing her vehicle and trying to run it off the road was charged Tuesday with two counts of attempted first-degree murder.

Gary Dennis Vogt, 66, had been served with a harassment and restraining order three days before the shooting that prevented him from bothering his estranged wife. He is accused of shooting her twice in an incident that started when he saw her driving near Stearns County roads 2 and 4 and gave chase.

Vogt's wife, who told investigators that she recently had left her husband, was hit in the head and back by gunfire and was taken to St. Cloud Hospital. Investigators have said they think her injuries are not life-threatening.

Vogt made his first court appearance on the charges Tuesday and was ordered held in lieu of $2 million bail by Stearns County District Court Judge Kris Davick-Halfen.

He was driving Saturday morning near Fisher Hill when he saw his estranged wife heading the other direction. He turned around and quickly gave chase, striking her vehicle numerous times and trying to run it off the road, according to a complaint.

As she drove toward St. Cloud on County Road 4, Vogt shot at her vehicle and hit her in the head, according to the court complaint charging Vogt. She continued to drive, and he continued to chase and bump her vehicle with his.

She stopped her vehicle on County Road 4, just south of County Road 120 and facing opposite the direction of traffic, and he pulled up alongside her vehicle and fired at least once more. She sustained a wound to her back as well.

When Vogt was interviewed after the shooting, he admitted that he "snapped" and couldn't take it anymore, according to the complaint.

Investigators found a revolver in Vogt's truck and noted that all six rounds in the chamber appeared to be expended, according to the complaint.

The complaint also notes that deputies served Vogt with the harassment and restraining order Oct. 22.

Numerous people told investigators that Vogt was "having a hard time dealing with" his wife leaving him, the complaint said. The complaint quotes a woman who had been with Vogt on the morning of the shooting and who described Vogt as depressed and upset about the restraining order.

Follow David Unze on Twitter @sctimesunze or contact him at 255-8740.