Grief weighed heavily on the Wausau-area community Wednesday after police confirmed four people were killed, including a police officer, in multiple shootings committed by one person during the day.
The Everest Metro officer has been identified as Jason Weiland, 40, a 15-year-veteran of the force.
"Please keep them in your prayers, and with our officers," said Everest Metro Police Chief Wally Sparks.
The suspect is in custody and his condition is unknown, he said.
"I want to let the community know there are no current threats, and there are no dangers out in the community," Chief Sparks said.
The investigation is still ongoing.
"There are more than 100 law enforcement officers in the field right now, working hard on several different crime scenes," said Jason Smith with the Wisconsin Department of Justice.
Police first responded to the Marathon Savings Bank for a report of a domestic disturbance early Wednesday afternoon, they said. They then received reports of shootings at a law firm in Schofield and the Aspen Apartment complex in Weston.
Neighbors caught in the crossfire were shocked to learn that something like this could happen in their own backyard.
"I walk out, and there was a cop with a gun drawn on the side of the building, and he was yelling out 'ma'am, ma'am,' and I looked at him, and I freaked out, and ran back into my apartment," said Brianna Bernarde, who lives in the Aspen Apartments.
Bernarde told NBC26 she and her boyfriend had to be escorted by police away from the scene for safety.
Students were released late from schools in the D.C. Everest School District, and students from Weston Elementary and Idea Charter School were bused to another location to be picked up.
