Convicted I-80 Sniper Found Dead - KTVN Channel 2 - Reno Tahoe News Weather, Video -

Officials with the Northern Nevada Correctional Center in Carson City say a man convicted of multiple attempted murders back in 1999 has died.

Officials say 34-year old Christopher Merritt was found dead in his cell Thursday morning. An autopsy is scheduled for next week to see how he died.

Officials say Merritt was known as the Interstate-80 Sniper. He was a part-time pig farmer from Minnesota who reportedly planned a cross-country killing spree to partly mock violence in the media.

He was convicted in 2000 for shooting at several cars the year before. One person was hit in the chest, and two others were injured. No one died in those incidents.