An autopsy is being performed today(Thurs) on the body of Autumn Steele.
The 34-year old Burlington woman was shot in the chest by Burlington police officer Jesse Hill late Tuesday morning in front of her home at 104 South Garfield…after Hill responded to a domestic disturbance call there and the family dog…a German Shepherd…startled him and he shot at it twice as he slipped and fell in the snow. That, according to a neighbor, who told the Hawk Eye that the shooting of Steele appeared from across the street to be an accident.
The state Department of Criminal Investigation…which is handling the case…says Steele was taken by ambulance to Great River Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. Hill was also taken to the hospital for treatment of dog bites. He’s been put on paid administrative leave until the autopsy results are known and the DCI investigation is finished. *(Special Agent in Charge Rick Rahn is heading up the probe.)
In the meantime, Heidi Steele-Van Buskirk…Gabriel Steele’s sister and Autumn’s sister-in-law…has opened an account on “gofundme.com/autumnS” to pay for her funeral. Steele is also survived by two sons…one four years old and the other seven.
