Wisconsin DOJ Probes Fatal Shooting After Fort Atkinson Officer Guns Down Armed Suspect Inside Home
FORT ATKINSON, WISCONSIN — The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred Sunday evening during a disturbance call in Fort Atkinson, officials confirmed.
According to the DOJ’s Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Fort Atkinson Police were dispatched around 5 p.m. to a home on the 600 block of Washington Street after receiving reports of a domestic disturbance that escalated to shots fired.
Officer Fired Gun, Suspect Later Died at Madison Hospital
When officers arrived, they surrounded the home and attempted to de-escalate the situation. During the encounter, one Fort Atkinson police officer fired their weapon, striking a male subject at the scene.
Authorities said the officer and other first responders immediately rendered medical aid, and the injured man was airlifted to a hospital in Madison, where he was later pronounced dead.
Investigators later recovered a rifle that did not belong to law enforcement from the scene.
“The scene is secure and safe,” Fort Atkinson Police said in a social media update posted around 8 p.m. Sunday, noting that officers would remain on-site to document and process evidence.
Officer on Leave as DOJ Leads Investigation
The DOJ confirmed that the officer involved was wearing a body camera at the time of the shooting and has been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure in police use-of-force cases.
The investigation is being led by the Wisconsin DOJ’s Division of Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Wisconsin State Patrol, Jefferson County Medical Examiner, Dane County Medical Examiner, and DCI Crime Response specialists.
“Our team is working to ensure a thorough and transparent review of the incident,” a DOJ spokesperson said early Monday morning.
Community Secured as Scene Processed Overnight
Photos from WMTV News showed a heavy police presence on Washington Street Sunday evening as crime scene investigators and multiple agencies worked to secure and process the area.
Officials have not yet released the name of the deceased or the officer involved. The Wisconsin DOJ said findings will later be turned over to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office for review.
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