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The Daily Cardinal Est. 1892
Saturday, May 03, 2025

Chief praises police action at day care

The Madison Police Department released the name and description of the armed man they shot and killed Tuesday at the Red Caboose Day Care Center, 654 Williamson St., in a press conference yesterday afternoon. 

 

 

 

The body of Gregory E. Velasquez, 39, of Madison, underwent an autopsy Tuesday. Dane County Coroner John Stanley ruled the death to be \suicide by police"" and said he died ""as a result of multiple gunshot wounds."" 

 

 

 

Police department spokesperson Larry Kamholz said eight bullet shell cases were found at the scene of the crime. 

 

 

 

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According to Kamholz, Velasquez was found with two meat cleavers, each eight-and-a-half by four inches, which he used to injure the head, shoulders and arms of Gary Dosemagen, a teacher at the day care center. 

 

 

 

The police department also revealed the names of the veteran police officers who shot Velasquez. 

 

 

 

Madison Police Department Police Chief Richard Williams commended what he called the ""heroic"" actions of Philip Yahnke and Shane Pueschner. 

 

 

 

""These police officers acted very quickly and appropriately,"" Williams said at the press conference. ""The officers' actions were justified and appropriate in that they prevented the harm and death of others."" 

 

 

 

Kamholz also thanked the community for providing therapy and support to the children and their families. 

 

 

 

At Capitol Kids, a children's store at 8 S. Carroll St., 10 percent of all sales Wednesday were contributed to Red Caboose Day Care. Peg Scholtes, who owns Capitol Kids with her daughter, said the public's response has been warm. 

 

 

 

""In general people are just happy to have something they can do. We've had great response,"" she said. ""When I knew the children were OK and they did such a good job of taking care of the children, I just was grateful that more harm hadn't been done.\

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