Crime & Safety

Waukesha Police Shoot Man Who Charged at Officers

44-year-old man hospitalized with unknown injuries after confronting police in Sunday morning incident.

A 44-year-old man is in critical condition after being shot by Waukesha police early Sunday morning after charging at officers in the 500 block of Spring Crest Circle, authorities said.

According to police:

The incident began at 1:48 a.m. when Waukesha police officers and county sheriff's deputies, including the K-9 unit, responded to a call of a possible suicidal subject.

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The elderly couple who called police said the 44-year-old had refused voluntary mental health assistance earlier in the day and had talked about jumping off a bridge. The couple were not his parents, call log states.

The couple, who were in the home with the man when police arrived, told officers that he had armed himself with knives and that he had threatened to “cut throats.” 

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"He is really ranting," the elderly woman told dispatchers, according to the call log.

The man called the Waukesha Police Department Dispatch Center and said he was holding a male hostage and that he was armed with two knives. The female caller was able to exit the residence.

The man then exited the home with two knives and charged at officers and disregarded their commands to drop the knives.

Poilce said officers were forced to shoot "in defense of their lives." The police department's call log states the man had multiple gunshot wounds and was conscious, alert and breathing after the shooting.

The man was taken to Froedtert Hospital by Flight for Life. He was in critical condition but expected to survive, police said.

No one else was injured in the incident.

Three city of Waukesha police officers and two sheriff's deputies who were involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation, which is routine in such shootings.

The officers involved from Waukesha are:

  • A 27-year-old officer in his fifth year on the department
  • A 27-year-old officer in his first year on the department
  • A 24-year-old officer in her first year on the department

The Waukesha County deputies have 13 and 12 years of experience. 

Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel was on the scene Sunday, and his office is investigating the shooting.


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