Gunfire at the Sauk Prairie Police Department on Friday afternoon led officers straight to a homicide suspect tied to a killing at Pewitt's Nest outside Baraboo, according to authorities. Multiple rounds hit the station's front door and vestibule, but no one inside was hurt. Investigators quickly connected the police station shooting to an earlier slaying at the nearby nature preserve and say the case is very much still active.
Officers said the Sauk Prairie station came under fire at about 3:10 p.m. Within minutes, they tracked down a minivan believed to be involved, stopped it and took the driver into custody without further incident. Deputies later determined the same person was linked to a shooting about an hour earlier at Pewitt's Nest, where law enforcement found a woman in the parking lot with multiple gunshot wounds around 2:10 p.m. The suspect was booked into the Sauk County Jail, and officials have not yet announced formal charges, according to FOX6 News Milwaukee.
Pewitt's Nest: a popular, fragile gorge
Pewitt's Nest is a narrow sandstone gorge carved by Skillet Creek just southwest of Baraboo and is a well-known spot for hikers and day trippers. It is designated as a State Natural Area and managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, which has capped parking and restricted swimming and cliff-jumping because of the gorge's steep, sensitive terrain. State tourism and DNR information emphasize both the small parking lot and the area's fragility, per Travel Wisconsin.
Investigation and legal status
The Sauk County Sheriff's Office said multiple agencies are working the case, including the Baraboo Police Department, Sauk Prairie Police Department, the Wisconsin State Patrol and the Wisconsin DNR. Authorities have not released the suspect's name or specified what charges may be filed. Prosecutors are expected to review the evidence once detectives complete their reports and turn over their findings. The sheriff's office says the investigation is ongoing and officers are still asking anyone with information to come forward, according to FOX6 News Milwaukee.
How the public can help
Investigators are urging anyone with tips, video or other potentially relevant details to contact the Sauk County Sheriff's Office or the appropriate local police agency. The county's public information pages list non-emergency numbers and tip-line contacts for the sheriff's office and partner departments, per the Sauk County Sheriff's Office.
