"We want to know everything we can before we make a final report," Kelly said.

Texas Ranger Frank Huff, whose coverage area includes Liberty County, could not be reached for comment.

Wheeler, 55, not only served as fire chief for decades in this Liberty County town, but also as fire marshal and director over the ambulance and emergency management services. He was found dead March 30 at his second home off FM 2021.

Wheeler had suffered a single bullet wound to his chest fired from a 9?mm semiautomatic pistol that he had recently purchased. Instructions and equipment for cleaning the gun were found on a nearby table, authorities said.

Alternative explanations

Wheeler's funeral was attended by a thousand mourners, and afterward his three brothers approached the sheriff's department about the suicide ruling.

One brother, Ron Wheeler, who is a reserve police officer with the Walker County district attorney, believes facts surrounding the death more logically point to an accident or even murder.

The other two brothers - Jack Wheeler, an attorney from Oklahoma, and Thom Wheeler, an artist from New Mexico - agree, as do many of the city's fire and ambulance workers.

"Those who knew and worked with my brother, Steve, say it's impossible. He was not despondent," Ron said. "We also have a lot of questions about the logistics."

Pistol misfired before

For instance, the brothers wonder how Steve, who investigators say was seated in a chair in front of the table with the gun cleaning equipment, was able to put the weapon down on the table after seriously injuring himself.

Investigators confirm the gun was found on the table near Steve's body, which had fallen on the floor by the chair.

However, Kelly said the chair was 38 inches from the table and that the table might have been a logical spot for the weapon to fall after the shot was fired.

Kelly said the bullet pierced Wheeler's body, severing the aorta and ending up embedded in the wall 4 inches from the ceiling.

"At that angle, if someone else pulled the trigger, they would have to have been lying on the floor," Kelly said.

In another scenario, Wheeler's brothers say the weapon might have jammed or misfired, as it had done a few days earlier during some target shooting.

DNA, fingerprint tests

The brothers stress that the last time anyone saw Steve he had a smile on his face and appeared in good spirits.

Investigators are looking into possible motivations, but do not want to discuss them yet.

Kelly said the gun is being tested for DNA and fingerprints. In addition, tests will be conducted to reconstruct the powder residue that was left on his shirt.

"It appeared to be a contact wound, which is usually found on a suicide," Kelly said. "Tests will tell for sure how close the weapon was held to the body."

Ron Wheeler said his family also plans to pay for a second autopsy by a noted forensic expert, Dr. Henry Lee in New Haven, Conn.

cindy.horswell@chron.com