A late-night encounter in a Superior, Wisconsin, neighborhood ended in gunfire Tuesday, leaving one person dead and a police officer in the hospital, according to state officials. The shooting happened around 9:50 p.m. on April 7 in a residential area south of downtown near the 1700 block of Oakes Avenue. Emergency crews provided life-saving aid, but the person was pronounced dead at the scene. The officer was also injured, taken to a nearby hospital, and later reported to be in stable condition.
What officials say
According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, a Superior officer located a person who was wanted by law enforcement in the 1700 block of Oakes Avenue and found two other people with that individual, Star Tribune reports. As the officer approached, one of the additional subjects tried to run, and the officer and that person became involved in a physical confrontation. During that struggle, the officer discharged their weapon and struck the subject.
How the encounter unfolded
First responders at the scene provided emergency medical attention, but the subject was pronounced dead there, according to Northern News Now. Law enforcement also recovered an additional firearm at the location. The outlet reports that the officer was injured during the altercation, transported to a local hospital and later listed in stable condition.
Investigation and next steps
The Wisconsin Department of Justice's Division of Criminal Investigation is leading the probe into the shooting, supported by a DCI crime response specialist and local agencies. As is standard practice, the officer involved has been placed on paid administrative leave while the investigation continues, and officials say the investigative findings will be turned over to the Douglas County district attorney for review, according to Star Tribune.
Local scene and response
Police closed Oakes Avenue from 16th to 18th Street while investigators processed the area. Superior Police Chief Paul Winterscheidt told reporters there was no ongoing threat to the public. A crew from Northern News Now reported from the scene and noted that officials expect to release additional information as the DCI moves forward with its work.
Legal process
The Wisconsin DOJ's Division of Criminal Investigation typically collects evidence, interviews witnesses and compiles reports that are then turned over to the appropriate district attorney for charging decisions. That same process has been described in recent DCI investigations and is what officials say will happen in this case, according to Wisconsin Public Radio.
