Jul 4, 12:04 AM EDT


Relatives: Irish citizen shot multiple times





SILVERTON, Ore. (AP) -- The family of an Irish citizen shot by a policeman here viewed the body Thursday and say they believe he was shot multiple times.

The sister and brother-in-law of Andrew James Hanlon saw Hanlon's body for the first time.

"It offered some closure to the ongoing grieving process, but it was definitely very upsetting to both of us," Nathan Heise said Thursday.

Heise said it appeared Hanlon had two gunshot wounds to his left arm, three wounds to his abdomen, one on his thigh and one in the back of his shoulder. "It was definitely not grouped in one area," he said.

News of the shooting in this quiet town in the heart of the Willamette Valley agricultural area is causing reverberations in Ireland.

The mother of the slain man went on the radio in Ireland Thursday to criticize police and prosecutors for failing to provide her with information.

"We're not getting any answers because they're closing ranks on us," Dorothea Carroll said in an interview Thursday with RT Radio One's Liveline in Dublin.

"As his mom, I'm being kept out of the loop. Nobody's telling me anything."

Heise said Carroll is expected to arrive in Oregon within the next few days, as are Irish journalists.

Irish television, radio and newspapers began peppering officials here with questions via telephone on Thursday.

The Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Michel Martin, has contacted Marion County prosecutors extending his condolences to Hanlon's family.

Hanlon was shot and killed late Monday evening by Officer Tony Gonzalez, who was responding to a reported burglary in progress.

Gonzalez is on administrative leave during the multi-agency investigation, which is routine in officer-involved shootings.

Marion County District Attorney Walt Beglau said no information will be released until the investigation is complete.

Beglau said he has been in touch with the Irish Consulate and is willing to meet with Hanlon's family to explain the investigative process.

Carroll said she had e-mailed the Silverton Police Department and the Marion County District Attorney's office but got no reply.

"Nobody will speak to me and tell me anything," she said.

Silverton residents also are seeking information such as whether Hanlon was armed and how many shots were fired.

About 70 people protested at the Silverton Police Department on Wednesday.

Carroll now lives in France, was in Ireland visiting her other son when she received word of Hanlon's death.

Hanlon had been living with his mother in France and attending art school when he came to visit his sister in Silverton a year ago.

Carroll said her only contact in Silverton except for family members came from Mayor Ken Hector, who knew Hanlon and was very distressed.

"No mother and no family expects to lose a 20-year-old son," she said. "Nobody expects that. And to lose a son is one thing," Carroll continued, her voice breaking, "but to lose a child, literally to be blasted away, to be shot to death, I mean my God, it's a violent end. It's a violent end."

Heise said services are pending.

Hanlon had mental issues and at times came banging on their door at night so they'd let him in for a place to sleep, Heise said.

The Heises say they think Hanlon took a wrong turn Monday night and started banging on doors on a different street, scaring the residents.

Someone called police, reporting a burglary, and one or more officers confronted Hanlon, Heise said.

Hanlon had been in Silverton for about a year and had overstayed his six months visitor's visa.

It gets dangerous , someone with `mental issues` banging on doors at night , drunk .

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