ANTIGO, WI (WSAU) — It’s been one year since four students were targeted on their way out of the Antigo High School Prom by Jakob Wagner.
Wagner used a hunting rifle to injure a male and female, for reasons still unknown for certain. It’s believed that Wagner’s past of being bullied as a student at Antigo contributed to his actions that night.
Antigo Police Officers Andy Hopfensperger and Ryan Bula were in the Antigo High School parking lot when gunfire rang out near the school. Hopfensperger responded immediately, taking down Wagner. When he returned to active duty last July, Hopfensperger insisted he wasn’t any different than any other officer.
While speaking with Newsline 9, Hopfensperger said, “I’m not a hero, I thank them for calling me that. I did what any officer, deputy, I did what any law enforcement officer would have done in my position and I believe that.”
Lori Wagner, Jakob’s mother, spoke out against Officer Hopfensperger’s actions, saying he was careless in his handling of the incident.
“It’s extremely hard to see the officer smiling in every picture and, I believe, in an interview recently he said that he doesn’t even think about it anymore and it doesn’t bother him,” said Lori. “Even if it wasn’t my child, the fact that he… basically cornered somebody and shot nine bullets at them, and six of them went into the school and it doesn’t bother him, is kind of wrong.”
Lori has begun a support group for victims of bullying and at-risk-youth called Jakob’s Light. She says her son was bullied relentlessly in school, to the point that she had to remove him from middle school for a semester.
The students targeted fully recovered from their injuries. Antigo will hold their next prom this Saturday, April 29th. Police will be present inside and outside of the school.
