An emergency situation that arose on Thursday night in Fredonia was resolved peacefully following a 38-hour standoff. The Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office announced on Saturday afternoon that the incident came to a conclusion shortly after midnight Saturday morning, and by 7:45 a.m. the operation was completed.
The incident in the Fox Glen neighborhood was described as “an intensive tactical response” that involved the Ozaukee County Special Response Team, with support from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team, Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team, and two members of the Franklin Police Department’s SWAT Team.
The incident began at around 8:30 p.m. Thursday when multiple reports of gunshots that had occurred throughout the day were received by the Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office. Additional calls were received from other concerned residents. Deputies responded to the neighborhood but did not immediately hear anything.
At around 10:30 p.m. Thursday, a phone contact from the Sheriff with the homeowner confirmed that he was playing loud music and firing weapons from his residence. He stated that he would continue playing the music and, if anyone came to his residence, he would shoot them. Shortly after the conclusion of the phone call, deputies on the scene heard multiple gunshots coming from inside the home. Further investigation determined that the suspect was discharging several firearms, including an automatic rifle, in unknown directions, posing a significant threat to the safety of the community and law enforcement. That’s when an advisory to residents to shelter in their basements was issued due to the high-powered capabilities of the suspect’s firearms to penetrate structures, and a perimeter was set up by the Ozaukee County Special Response Team.
Over the course of several hours, negotiators attempted to engage the suspect and de-escalate the situation, but to no avail as the suspect made explicit threats to “go full auto” and kill anyone who approached. The suspect also indicated that he was heavily armed and prepared to use force against officers. The threat was verified when the suspect was observed aiming a rifle in the direction of law enforcement armored vehicles that were on-site. The Ozaukee County SRT was temporarily relieved at noon on Friday by Washington and Milwaukee County SWAT teams while negotiations continued into the evening. Tactical command was returned to the Ozaukee County SRT at 7 p.m. Friday.
At about 12:30 a.m. Saturday, non-lethal tactical resources were employed that impaired the ability of the suspect to resist, and he was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital for minor injuries and a mental health evaluation. Criminal charges are pending.
The Sheriff acknowledged questions about the duration of the incident, however she said that the decision to proceed with a measured approach was made in order to safeguard all individuals involved; law enforcement, community members, and the suspect alike, and avoided a rushed response that risked unintended consequences.
As a final comment, the Sheriff issued the following statement:
“The successful conclusion of this incident was made possible through the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement and fire department partners. Their professionalism and dedication were instrumental in ensuring the safety of our community. Thank you to the following departments:
• Washington County Sheriff’s Office SWAT
• Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office SWAT, EOD and Drone Team
• Franklin Police Department’s SWAT members
• Saukville Police Department
• Port Washington Police Department
• Wisconsin State Patrol
• Fredonia Marshals
• Fredonia Fire Department
• Port Washington Fire Department
• Ozaukee Central Fire Department
• Belgium Fire Department
• Waubeka Fire Department
• Ozaukee County Emergency Management
• Ozaukee County Drone Team
It was a humbling experience to witness our community come together in support of the
dedicated men and women who worked tirelessly to bring this incident to a successful resolution.
To the many individuals who dropped off refreshments—thank you for your kindness and
generosity. A heartfelt thank you to the Fredonia Fire Department for your exceptional care and
support as you opened up your home to us. We are also deeply grateful to Casey’s of Fredonia,
Miriam’s Bakery, Kwik Trip Saukville, The Pasta Shoppe, and the generous community members for providing meals during this time. Your contributions are a powerful reminder of the
strength and compassion that define our community here in Ozaukee County.”
• Washington County Sheriff’s Office SWAT
• Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office SWAT, EOD and Drone Team
• Franklin Police Department’s SWAT members
• Saukville Police Department
• Port Washington Police Department
• Wisconsin State Patrol
• Fredonia Marshals
• Fredonia Fire Department
• Port Washington Fire Department
• Ozaukee Central Fire Department
• Belgium Fire Department
• Waubeka Fire Department
• Ozaukee County Emergency Management
• Ozaukee County Drone Team
It was a humbling experience to witness our community come together in support of the
dedicated men and women who worked tirelessly to bring this incident to a successful resolution.
To the many individuals who dropped off refreshments—thank you for your kindness and
generosity. A heartfelt thank you to the Fredonia Fire Department for your exceptional care and
support as you opened up your home to us. We are also deeply grateful to Casey’s of Fredonia,
Miriam’s Bakery, Kwik Trip Saukville, The Pasta Shoppe, and the generous community members for providing meals during this time. Your contributions are a powerful reminder of the
strength and compassion that define our community here in Ozaukee County.”
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