SHEBOYGAN -- Police in Sheboygan shot and killed a suspect after he allegedly robbed a tavern armed with an AR-15 style rifle.
The police chief said two officers responded to a 911 call reporting a robbery at the Union Avenue Tap in Sheboygan just after 11:30 p.m. Sunday.
Upon arrival, Chief Chris Domagalski said the officers met the robbery suspect, armed with a rifle, in the doorway.
"Both officers fired shots at the suspect, and the suspect died at the scene," Domagalski said.
Domagalski said it's not known how many rounds were fired. He also said he believed the officers gave the suspect a verbal warning before shooting.
The suspect hasn't been identified.
Domagalski identified the two officers as a 32-year old with 10 years of experience and a 33-year old with seven years of experience.
The Chief said there were four people inside the tavern at the time of the robbery -- two employees and two patrons.
"One of the employees, a 53-year old male, also received a gunshot wound to the arm and possibly a graze wound to the chest," Domagalski said.
He said the man is currently in stable condition and undergoing surgery.
State law requires fatal, officer-involved shootings to be investigated by an outside law enforcement agency. Domagalski said a regional team comprised of officials from the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department, Sheboygan County Sheriff's Department and the Fond du Lac Police Department is investigating the shooting.
A captain from Winnebago County is coordinating and overseeing the investigation, Domagalski said.
The two officers involved have been placed on administrative leave.
Domagalski said investigators would be working on processing the scene into the afternoon on Monday, as well as on canvassing the neighborhood for witnesses and tracking down any available surveillance video.
"There are many victims in this incident that will need support," the Chief said. "We're talking about the tavern employees, the patrons, the officers, and the victim's family and loved ones as well."
Neighbors in the area said they were saddened to learn of the shooting.
"I thought it was fireworks," said Emily Hottinger. "I was almost ready to run outside and see what all the commotion was about."
"There's a lot of children in this neighborhood," she said. "I'm glad the (suspect) didn't come house to house."
"There was no crime - barely any - here a couple of years ago. But now it's just getting out of hand," said Ali Klein, who's lived in the area 16 years.
Klein said Sunday night's alleged robbery only adds to her fears about crime and disorder in the neighborhood.
"Now I feel like I'm just kind of watching my back a little bit more," she said.
