ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – There has been an active shooter situation at the Oneida Casino in Ashwaubenon.
Authorities say two people were gunned down by a man who may have been there to shoot someone else. The suspect apparently walked into the Duck Creek Kitchen and Bar and opened fire.
“[He was] targeting a specific victim who was not there, but he decided to still shoot some of the victim’s friends and co-workers, it appears,” said Brown County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant, Kevin Pawlak.
You can see the entire press conference here:
Another person was wounded and was transported to a Milwaukee area hospital for treatment.
Investigators say there was at least some level of personal relationship between the shooter and the victim he was targeting, but couldn’t confirm whether the shooter had been employed at the casino, hotel, or adjoining restaurant.
“It appears there was some relationship that had to do with employment. Whether or not they all worked there, we’re still working on,” Pawlak said. “The target, I believe, was an employee. We’re not sure if the shooter was.”
The Brown County Sheriff’s Office says the shooter was by fatally wounded by someone with one of the numerous police agencies that responded to the initial call. The Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation is heading the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.
No further information about the victims or the shooter was released Saturday night. More information is expected in the coming days.
“It’s active in the manner that it is being secured,” said Oneida Nation spokesperson Bobbi Webster. “There are multiple law enforcement agencies on scene right now, but I don’t believe that right now there is a threat at this time to any individual.”
According to police scanner traffic the shooting was first reported in the sports bar area of the Raddison Hotel.
People walking along Highway 172, away from the Oneida Casino, after a shooting on May 1, 2021. (WTAQ News/Casey Nelson)
“We heard two shots go off. We seen the gun and quickly realized how real of a situation it was.”
Jawad Yatim is the co-owner of the Massachusetts Pirates, and indoor football team in town to play the Green Bay Blizzard.
“I know for sure two. Because they happened right next to us. But he was shooting pretty aggressively.”
Police work to gather details from witnesses following a shooting on May 1, 2021. (WTAQ News/Casey Nelson)
Another witness at the casino says….
“We saw a cop with an AR-15, he locks it. He’s running through there and it was nuts and the next thing you is where like 40 or 50 shots.”
This witness heard gunshots, so he and his group didn’t waste any time….
“And we all run. We’re taking off, it’s mass chaos, everyone is running, we’re ducking, we’re running into the woods.”
Dozens of police came to the casino, which is off of Highway 172 and across from Austin Straubel Airport. The Oneida Police Department, with help from the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, will be handling the homicide portion of the investigation.
Highway 172 was blocked off at Packerland Drive for hours.
Meanwhile, all Oneida Casino locations are closed.
All @OneidaCasino locations will be closed until further notice. We will post additional information as it becomes available.
— Oneida Nation (@OneidaNationWI) May 2, 2021
