5 Dead After Shootings At 2 Chippewa County Homes

Five people are dead in Chippewa County after overnight shootings at two homes.

In a press release Monday, Chippewa County Sheriff Jim Kowalczyk said officers received a 911 call at 10:27 p.m. Sunday requesting law enforcement and emergency medical services for a shooting at a home in the Village of Lake Hallie.

When deputies arrived they found a man and woman dead. Two other adults at the home at the time of the shooting were also shot and taken to an area hospital where they are being treated for their injuries.

In an interview with WPR, Kowalczyk said the injured were the mother and father of the female found dead in the home. Kowalczyk didn’t know what condition the parents were in but said an investigator with the Lake Hallie Police Department was working with them to piece together what happened.

“I know one of their investigators spent most of the morning down there attempting to interview these two victims,” Kowalczyk said.

Around 2:30 a.m. Monday, Chippewa County deputies went to a residence of one of the deceased in the rural town of Lafayette to notify next of kin. When officers arrived there they found three other people dead with gunshot wounds — a man, woman and boy.

“A vehicle that was driven to that location in Lake Hallie came back to a gentleman living in Lafayette,” said Kowalczyk. “We went to the residence to make contact with that individual and upon knocking, upon calling the residence, received no answer. We forced our way in and that’s where we found the three other victims.”

The person suspected in both shootings is among the dead, according to the release.

Names and ages have not been released. Kowalczyk said residents are “not in harm’s way” and more details will come as the investigation continues.

“Shortly after the two investigations started we were pretty convinced that there were no other persons involved in these two incidents,” said Kowalczyk. “We stand by that right now. I don’t think the citizens of Chippewa County have anything to fear at this point.”

A press conference is planned for Tuesday in Chippewa Falls.