WAUTOMA, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is conducting a death investigation that occurred in the Township of Wautoma, Wis. on the evening of Thursday, October 16, 2025.
At approximately 5:25 p.m., a deputy with the Waushara County Sheriff’s Office and a trooper with the Wisconsin State Patrol responded to a domestic violence call at a residence near the intersection of State Road 73 and County Road O in the Township of Wautoma. When the deputy arrived on scene, a male subject was standing outside of the residence and retreated into the residence. Upon the male subject retreating into the residence, the male subject fired a weapon at the deputy from inside of the residence and the deputy returned fire. The male subject barricaded himself inside of the residence and law enforcement officers attempted to negotiate with the male subject. Additional law enforcement officers arrived on the scene, including members of the Portage County Tactical Team and the Stevens Point/Plover Tactical Team, to assist. Law enforcement officers heard gunshots from inside the residence. After attempted communication and other measures, law enforcement officers entered the residence, and the subject was located deceased inside the residence.
No law enforcement officers were injured during this incident.
The involved law enforcement officers had their squad cameras activated during the incident.
DCI is leading this investigation and is assisted by a DCI Crime Response Specialist, the Wisconsin State Patrol Technical Reconstruction Unit and the Waushara County Medical Examiner’s Office.
All involved law enforcement are fully cooperating with DCI during this investigation.
DCI is continuing to review evidence and determine the facts of this incident and will turn over the investigative reports to the Waushara County District Attorney’s Office when the investigation concludes.
Please direct all media inquiries to Wisconsin DOJ.
