A hostage situation at the Meijer store in Waukesha ended with an officer shooting the suspect on July 30, according to the Waukesha Police Department.
Police Chief Dan Thompson said the city’s Emergency Communications Center received a call at about 5:51 p.m. from a man who said he was armed with a knife, had taken a hostage and wanted to speak with a police hostage negotiator.
Officers immediately responded to the store, located at 801 E. Sunset Drive, while a trained police crisis negotiator established phone contact with the suspect.
When officers located the suspect in the center main area of the store, they observed him armed with a knife and standing in close proximity to a 59-year-old man.
Officers repeatedly ordered the suspect to drop the knife. Based on the suspect’s actions and the immediate threat he posed to the victim, the public and responding officers, one officer fired his weapon, striking the suspect, Thompson said.
Officers immediately began rendering aid, including applying a tourniquet, before the suspect was transported to a local hospital. He remains in critical condition.
The 59-year-old victim also suffered injuries. He was treated at the scene for injuries that were not life-threatening before being transported to a hospital.
Thompson said officers recovered the knife used by the suspect at the scene.
The officer who fired his weapon is a 26-year-old man with five years of law enforcement experience. Thompson said the officer has been placed on administrative leave in accordance with department policy.
The incident was captured on officers’ body-worn cameras. However, Thompson said the footage will not be released at this time because the investigation remains ongoing.
The Greenfield Police Department is leading the investigation. Thompson said the suspect has had prior contact with the Waukesha Police Department, but the circumstances leading up to the shooting, including whether the suspect knew the victim, remain under investigation.
Although the investigation is ongoing, Thompson said preliminary information indicates the officer’s actions were consistent with department policy and training.
Chris Ramirez covers courts for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at caramirez@usatodayco.com.
Adrienne Davis is a general assignment and breaking news reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Got any tips or stories to share? Contact Adrienne at amdavis@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss.
This story was updated to add new information.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Waukesha Meijer hostage situation ends with officer shooting suspect
Reporting by Chris Ramirez and Adrienne Davis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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By Chris Ramirez and Adrienne Davis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
