STEVENS POINT, Wis. (WSAU) — Thursday’s shooting incident in Stevens Point was close enough to the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point campus to trigger campus-wide safety notifications.
Chancellor Bernie Patterson confirmed that the UWSP campus has the Pointer Alert System, which he says was used three times after the shooting incident to let the entire campus know what was going on and tell them about available services and contact numbers. “It send a message to the phone. It also sends an email to every account in the UWSP system. It also has a pop-up on the computer if you’re logged in. However way you’re logged in, you get a pop-up that says there’s something going on and you need to be aware of it.” He added, “And, that message does include information that if you feel the need to talk with somebody, if you feel anxious or uneasy about this particular situation or if you have information that would be helpful, here’s who you need to contact.”
21-year-old Deonta Lezine was shot near an apartment building in the 2700 block of 5th Avenue, by Minnesota Avenue in Stevens Point. The Racine Horlick 2013 graduate was living in Stevens Point, where he used to play football for UWSP. Patterson says university officials are concerned about Lezine and the entire community’s safety. “He is not a student currently enrolled in the university, but of course we’re concerned about the incident. Anytime there’s a violent act in our community, we’re concerned about that. The number one priority, of course, is the safety of our campus, of our faculty, our staff, our students, and the community that surrounds us.”
Lezine was shot off campus, but Patterson confirms he was found on campus, where several people acted quickly to help him. “He was found by some students and custodial staff, who immediately recognized that he needed medical assistance. They rendered assistance and called 911. They did exactly what they should have done, and we’re quite proud they reacted the way they did.”
Stevens Point Police Chief Martin Skibba confirms they are trying to find 30-year-old Kyle C. Engen. Engen is believed to be the man that shot Lezine during a drug deal. Officers executed a search warrant in Dane County Saturday, but did not locate him.
Skibba confirmed Saturday Lezine was on life support Saturday, but did not disclose what hospital he is being treated at.
