2ilvia
10-09-2007, 08:24 AM
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-10-08-wisconsin_N.htm?csp=34
CRANDON, Wis. — Ted Paque usually exchanges friendly greetings with everyone he encounters on his way to work at Pitts Bus Service. On Monday, though, there were no cheery hellos as this grieving town of 1,961 tried to understand why an off-duty sheriff's deputy murdered six young people.
"There's just an uneasy feeling in the whole town," Paque said. He knew some victims of Sunday's shooting here and Tyler Peterson, the deputy who died later during a showdown with law enforcement officers at a home in nearby Argonne.
"Until we all leave this earth, this is going to stay with us," Paque said.
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The victims were gathered for pizza and movies after a festive homecoming weekend that included a bonfire and a football victory by the hometown Cardinals over Florence. They included Jordanne Murray, Peterson's former girlfriend, and other current and former Crandon High School students. The youngest was 14.
[URL="http://www.usatoday.com/community/tags/topic.aspx?req=tag&tag=John%20Dennee"] (http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/10/taunts-of-worth.html)
Classes were canceled at schools here Monday and a junior varsity football game was scratched. Most businesses were open, but customers were sparse. Outside Sinnerman Tattoo Company, employees propped up a memorial sign reading "Love You Guys." A few blocks away, yellow police tape surrounded the white house where crime-scene investigators wearing jumpsuits worked.
Even before a midday storm, playgrounds were empty. Dozens of people sought solace at Praise Chapel Community Church. The pastor, Bill Farr, said there were mostly "hugs and tears."
Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen told reporters that although "violence so terrible and tragic will never make sense, we will continue to investigate this matter." He described the bloodshed that erupted early Sunday morning.
Peterson, 20, who also was a part-time Crandon police officer, entered the house on Hazeldell Avenue here at 2:47 a.m. Sunday. "An argument ensued," Van Hollen said, and Peterson left. Police Chief John Dennee said Murray and Peterson "were in a relationship for a few years. They had broken up."
Moments later, Peterson forced his way back in and fired approximately 30 rounds from an AR-15 assault rifle. Dennee said similar rifles are used by his department. Just one of the people inside, Charlie Neitzel, 21, survived.
Peterson fired at police who responded to emergency calls, then fled. One officer had minor injuries from broken glass. Peterson spoke by phone with Dennee later Sunday and admitted he was the culprit. "Once we realized he was our suspect, he was no longer a cop," Dennee said. "He was treated like a suspect."
Peterson also talked on the phone with District Attorney Leon Stenz, who tried to negotiate Peterson's surrender. "He was calm. He understood the dilemma he was in," Stenz said.
Peterson spent about five hours after the murders at the home of family friend Mike Kegley in Argonne, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Monday. Kegley told the newspaper that Peterson described the shootings as Kegley's family quietly called 911. Kegley said he tried to talk Peterson into surrendering. "He wasn't running around crazy or anything," he told the Journal Sentinel. "He was very, very sorry for what he did."
Van Hollen said officers exchanged fire with Peterson at the home. They're not sure whether he committed suicide or was shot.
Several callers to WSAU radio's morning talk show in nearby Wausau suggested that Peterson was too young to be a Forest County sheriff's deputy and police officer. Dennee said Peterson "met the requirements to be hired in the state of Wisconsin." He underwent a background check before the police department hired him, Dennee said, but "there was not a psychological evaluation done."
Kevin St. John, spokesman for the Wisconsin Department of Justice, said the Crandon Police Department adopted the state minimum age requirement of 18, though state law "highly recommends" that agencies set higher age limits. Peterson was a member of the Forest County SWAT team.
Funeral arrangements for the victims have not been set. A memorial fund has been set up at a local bank. Classes resume Wednesday. This town has just begun to celebrate the short lives of the victims.
Some people say the crime created new fear in this town, known for its off-road raceway and its effort to raise money to help a young Iraqi girl get cornea transplants. "I'm shocked that it would happen in a small town," said Kathy Calhoun, who has three children and moved here last year.
The search for explanations for Peterson's rampage continues. In an interview, Farr said Peterson went to school with his son, Jonathan. "He was a solid kid," Farr said. "He didn't demonstrate any violent behavior. He was raised well."
At Monday's news conference, Farr read a statement from Peterson's parents, Steve and Laurel Peterson. "This huge tragedy has deeply affected everyone, including us," they said. "We also feel a tremendous amount of guilt and shame for the horrible acts Tyler committed. … There is nothing that happened before or after yesterday's events that has given us any insight into why."
Like everyone, they said, "We are in shock and disbelief that he would do such terrible things. This was not the Tyler we knew and loved."
Some who knew him felt the same incredulity. "He seemed like a normal young man," said Doug Hayes as he repaired the electrical system of an all-terrain vehicle in his shop. He predicted that as people here heal, they will reach out to the Petersons.
"The town will be very supportive of all the families," Hayes said, "including Tyler's."
Contributing: Oren Dorell in McLean, Va.
CRANDON, Wis. — Ted Paque usually exchanges friendly greetings with everyone he encounters on his way to work at Pitts Bus Service. On Monday, though, there were no cheery hellos as this grieving town of 1,961 tried to understand why an off-duty sheriff's deputy murdered six young people.
"There's just an uneasy feeling in the whole town," Paque said. He knew some victims of Sunday's shooting here and Tyler Peterson, the deputy who died later during a showdown with law enforcement officers at a home in nearby Argonne.
"Until we all leave this earth, this is going to stay with us," Paque said.
[/URL]
The victims were gathered for pizza and movies after a festive homecoming weekend that included a bonfire and a football victory by the hometown Cardinals over Florence. They included Jordanne Murray, Peterson's former girlfriend, and other current and former Crandon High School students. The youngest was 14.
[URL="http://www.usatoday.com/community/tags/topic.aspx?req=tag&tag=John%20Dennee"] (http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/10/taunts-of-worth.html)
Classes were canceled at schools here Monday and a junior varsity football game was scratched. Most businesses were open, but customers were sparse. Outside Sinnerman Tattoo Company, employees propped up a memorial sign reading "Love You Guys." A few blocks away, yellow police tape surrounded the white house where crime-scene investigators wearing jumpsuits worked.
Even before a midday storm, playgrounds were empty. Dozens of people sought solace at Praise Chapel Community Church. The pastor, Bill Farr, said there were mostly "hugs and tears."
Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen told reporters that although "violence so terrible and tragic will never make sense, we will continue to investigate this matter." He described the bloodshed that erupted early Sunday morning.
Peterson, 20, who also was a part-time Crandon police officer, entered the house on Hazeldell Avenue here at 2:47 a.m. Sunday. "An argument ensued," Van Hollen said, and Peterson left. Police Chief John Dennee said Murray and Peterson "were in a relationship for a few years. They had broken up."
Moments later, Peterson forced his way back in and fired approximately 30 rounds from an AR-15 assault rifle. Dennee said similar rifles are used by his department. Just one of the people inside, Charlie Neitzel, 21, survived.
Peterson fired at police who responded to emergency calls, then fled. One officer had minor injuries from broken glass. Peterson spoke by phone with Dennee later Sunday and admitted he was the culprit. "Once we realized he was our suspect, he was no longer a cop," Dennee said. "He was treated like a suspect."
Peterson also talked on the phone with District Attorney Leon Stenz, who tried to negotiate Peterson's surrender. "He was calm. He understood the dilemma he was in," Stenz said.
Peterson spent about five hours after the murders at the home of family friend Mike Kegley in Argonne, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Monday. Kegley told the newspaper that Peterson described the shootings as Kegley's family quietly called 911. Kegley said he tried to talk Peterson into surrendering. "He wasn't running around crazy or anything," he told the Journal Sentinel. "He was very, very sorry for what he did."
Van Hollen said officers exchanged fire with Peterson at the home. They're not sure whether he committed suicide or was shot.
Several callers to WSAU radio's morning talk show in nearby Wausau suggested that Peterson was too young to be a Forest County sheriff's deputy and police officer. Dennee said Peterson "met the requirements to be hired in the state of Wisconsin." He underwent a background check before the police department hired him, Dennee said, but "there was not a psychological evaluation done."
Kevin St. John, spokesman for the Wisconsin Department of Justice, said the Crandon Police Department adopted the state minimum age requirement of 18, though state law "highly recommends" that agencies set higher age limits. Peterson was a member of the Forest County SWAT team.
Funeral arrangements for the victims have not been set. A memorial fund has been set up at a local bank. Classes resume Wednesday. This town has just begun to celebrate the short lives of the victims.
Some people say the crime created new fear in this town, known for its off-road raceway and its effort to raise money to help a young Iraqi girl get cornea transplants. "I'm shocked that it would happen in a small town," said Kathy Calhoun, who has three children and moved here last year.
The search for explanations for Peterson's rampage continues. In an interview, Farr said Peterson went to school with his son, Jonathan. "He was a solid kid," Farr said. "He didn't demonstrate any violent behavior. He was raised well."
At Monday's news conference, Farr read a statement from Peterson's parents, Steve and Laurel Peterson. "This huge tragedy has deeply affected everyone, including us," they said. "We also feel a tremendous amount of guilt and shame for the horrible acts Tyler committed. … There is nothing that happened before or after yesterday's events that has given us any insight into why."
Like everyone, they said, "We are in shock and disbelief that he would do such terrible things. This was not the Tyler we knew and loved."
Some who knew him felt the same incredulity. "He seemed like a normal young man," said Doug Hayes as he repaired the electrical system of an all-terrain vehicle in his shop. He predicted that as people here heal, they will reach out to the Petersons.
"The town will be very supportive of all the families," Hayes said, "including Tyler's."
Contributing: Oren Dorell in McLean, Va.