UW-Milwaukee junior Bradley Schultz died Sunday when an off duty police officer killed Schultz and five others at a small house party in Crandon, Wis.
Tyler Peterson, 20, allegedly engaged in an argument outside of a home in Crandon around 3 a.m., later returning with a rifle from his truck, according to a press release by Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen.
Peterson is said to have forced his way into the building and killed six people, including Bradley, who was home visiting from UW-Milwaukee, according to The Associated Press.
Peterson worked for the county sheriff's department and police in the small town of Crandon, Wis., about 40 minutes south of the upper Michigan border with a population of about 2,000.
According to Van Hollen, Peterson later left the scene and fired at another Crandon police officer. He then contacted Crandon Chief of Police John Dennee, informed Dennee he was the shooter and fled to the nearby town of Argonne, the release stated.
Peterson was later contacted by authorities and shots were fired by both sides. The release stated that it was premature to speculate on how Peterson died, and it is an ongoing investigation. Crandon Mayor Gary Bradley had previously stated that a sniper had killed Peterson, according to the AP.
Laura Glawe, director of university communications and media relations at UW-Milwaukee, said the university is offering counseling services for those who knew Schultz or were affected by the tragedy.
There is one survivor to the attack, Charlie Neitzel, 21, who is currently in serious condition at St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield, Wis., according to hospital spokesperson Karla David.
David said she was not able to comment on whether Neitzel was conscious or not.
Neitzel was wounded in two extremities and will go into surgery today, according to David.
Eric Vertein, pastor of St. Paul and Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in the area, said people who spoke with him about Peterson described the shooter as a quiet individual.""
Vertein said school was called off for the day Monday, with the town only having one school that deals with all K-12 students. Vertain said community members who have talked to him, some of whom work at the high school most of the victims attended, are still grieving and in shock.
""Every father has put himself in the place of the fathers that lost their kids on Sunday,"" Vertein said.
