Person of interest in Becker shooting kills himself

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COLD SPRING, Minn. - Eric J. Thomes, regarded by Cold Spring police as a "person of interest" in the slaying of police office Thomas Decker, committed suicide last week.

Thomes reportedly hanged himself. Police found his body on Wednesday while going to interview him again about the Decker case.

Thomes was reportedly a patron of the tavern that is near the place Decker was shot twice in the head and killed. Police and news reports indicate the .20 gauge shotgun used in the Decker's killing was traced to him along with a vehicle reportedly leaving the bar after Decker's death. Decker also reportedly assisted on the DWI arrest of Thomes in August of 2011. Thomes had be arrested in early December on a warrant for failure to show up in court on the DWI charge. He had been released on $25,000 bail.

Cold Spring police and Stearns County Sheriff's officials held a press conference Friday updating the public on the progress of the investigation into Decker case. Police did not say Thomes was a suspect. One person believed to be a suspect, Ryan Larson, was arrested the night of the shooting but was later released.

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