Wisconsin Town Seeks Answers After Rampage

Oct 08, 06:34 PM

Current Headlines: By Megan Twohey, Chicago Tribune

Oct. 8--CRANDON, Wis. -- This small northeastern Wisconsin community, still seeking answers after six young people were shot and killed, began to learn details Monday about the deadly shootings that ended with the gunman, a 20-year-old local police officer, also dead.

Tyler Peterson, an employee of the Forest County Sheriff's Office who also worked as a part-time officer with the Crandon Police Department, showed up at a home where seven young men and women were gathered shortly after 2:45 a.m. Sunday, began arguing with the group, and then went outside to retrieve an AR-15 rifle from his truck, Wisconsin Atty. Gen. J.B. Van Hollen said at a Monday press conference at Crandon High School.

Peterson then forced himself back into the home, Van Hollen said, where he unloaded 30 rounds of fire, killing six people and leaving one wounded.

Neither Van Hollen nor police could say what had prompted the fight, but Crandon Police Chief John Denne told reporters Peterson had been romantically involved at one point with 18-year-old Jordanne Murray, who was one of the victims.

After the shooting in Crandon, Peterson took off for several hours, during which time he shot and wounded a fellow Crandon officer, attempted to negotiate by phone with Denne and the Forest County district attorney before seeking refuge in a home in neighboring Argonne, Van Hollen said.

Peterson died of a gun shot wound at that home in Argonne, Van Hollen said, although he told reporters it was not clear whether Peterson shot himself or whether he was shot by the law enforcement officers who showed up at the scene.

Peterson's family said in a statement that they had no idea why Tyler Peterson would commit such murders. "There is nothing that happened before or after yesterday's events that has given any insight into why," the family said in the statement, which was read at the press conference by Bill Farr, a pastor at a local church. "We are in shock and disbelief as to why he would do such terrible things."

The other victims, Van Hollen said, are: Katrina McCorkle, 18, Leanna Thomas, 18, Bradley Schultz, 20, Aaron Smith, 20, and Lindsay Stahl, 14.

Charlie Nietzel, 19, was wounded and is receiving care at a nearby hospital.

mtwohey@tribune.com

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