The hostage situation as the Meijer store in Waukesha on July 30 ended in a suspect shot and at a hospital, a 59-year-old man injured, and a 26-year-old Waukesha police officer on administrative leave after shooting the suspect.
Here’s what to know about the incident:
Suspect called police officers saying he took someone hostage
Waukesha 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 while a trained police crisis negotiator established phone contact with the suspect, whom Thompson said has a prior history with the Waukesha Police Department.
What happened when officers found the suspect?
Officers observed the suspect 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.
What happened to the suspect after he was shot?
Officers immediately began rendering aid, including applying a tourniquet, before the suspect was transported to a local hospital. He remains in critical condition.
What is the victim’s condition?
The 59-year-old victim was treated at the scene for injuries that were not life-threatening before being transported to a hospital.
What do we know about the officer who shot the suspect?
The officer who fired his weapon is a 26-year-old man with five years of law enforcement experience. He has been placed on administrative leave in accordance with department policy.
Thompson said preliminary information indicates the officer’s actions were consistent with department policy and training.
Where does the investigation stand?
The Greenfield Police Department is leading the investigation.
Thompson said the circumstances leading up to the shooting, including whether the suspect knew the victim, remain under investigation.
Jack Albright can be reached at JAlbright@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know about the hostage situation at Waukesha Meijer
Reporting by Jack Albright, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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By Jack Albright, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
