The Sheboygan Police Department says a standoff, triggered by a shooting, has ended.
For hours people in the City of Sheboygan were being told to shelter in place in the area of S. 9th Street and Humboldt Avenue.
Officials on the scene at the time said the threat was been contained to one home on the 2700 block and there was no danger to the public. However, people were still being advised to avoid the area.
Sheboygan Police said they were "investigating an incident and are trying to locate someone."
In a Facebook post, the Sheriff's Office called it an "ongoing Law Enforcement incident". A producer at our Milwaukee sister station TMJ4, Justin Valdez, lives nearby and said he saw investigators flying two drones in the air on Wednesday afternoon. Valdez also spoke to a few neighbors who claim to have heard gunshots earlier in the day.
Throughout the afternoon flashing lights, SWAT teams and firetrucks could be seen in the neighborhood.
Just before 4:40 p.m. Sheboygan police confirmed the incident had ended but declined to provide any further details and instead said a press release would be sent to area media.
Once the shelter in place order was lifted and law enforcement teams began to move out of the area significant damage was visible on the front of a home in the 2700 block, indicating force may have been used to enter.
At this point, it's unclear how the standoff came to a close — but police have revealed how it began.
Sheboygan police say a contractor was shot Wednesday morning and when police arrived, they had reason to believe the man who pulled the trigger was still in a home, refusing to come out.
Many neighbors were shocked to see what was unfolding. "This is usually a real quiet area, this is a shock. A real shocker," said Tim Fjeldstad.
Marissa Mathes was also surprised,"I heard a contractor was trying to go knock on the door and then he got shot in the eye."
During an afternoon press briefing Sgt. Andy Kundinger said law enforcement had been to convince the man inside the home to come out. "We've been negotiating with him, attempting to make contact with him throughout the day via phone and intercom."
He said teams were prepared to enter "When we've exhausted our options to have the person exit safely"
The post goes on to say that the Sheriff's Office and Sheboygan Police Department are working together on the incident.
Parents in the Sheboygan School District also received a call around 11:00 a.m. that Sheboygan South High School, Farnsworth Middle School, and Wilson Elementary were placed on lockdown due to "an incident involving the Sheriff's Office."
Parents at each of those schools also received an email from Superintendent of Schools Seth Harvatine. It said the schools "were placed in soft lockdown to keep all students inside the building and restrict people from entering."
Around 12:30 p.m. families were sent another note saying the soft lockdown had been lifted and that student dismissal would take place at the normal time. District leaders also advised families to take alternate travel routes during pick-up in order to avoid the 2700 block of 9th Street.
