One person has died as a result of a hostage situation that lasted all day with police in Neenah. It began around 9 a-m Saturday when a man created a disturbance by firing a gun at Eagle Nation Cycles on Main Street. Police soon realized that they were dealing with a multiple hostage situation. Chief Wilkinson estimates around 70 police officers from surrounding agencies were on the scene assisting today in an event that resulted in the loss of one life and the potential to be even deadlier.
"Neenah police received specific information that hostages were in immediate danger of being killed," says Chief Kevin Wilkinson of the Neenah Police department.
Police officers spent hours negotiating with the hostage taker and in attempts to free the hostages. Officers were met with gunfire upon arrival and one officer was shot at with a potentially fatal bullet. Fortunately his ballistic helmet deflected it and ultimately saved his life.
Big city, small city, no city is ever truly ready for a hostage situation like the one handled in Neenah today. But with one person dead the Neenah police are fully aware that today's standoff could have ended much worse.
Authorities say 3 to 10 people were held hostage for several hours after a man showed up to the Eagle Nation Cycle Shop and initially fired at least one round from a gun early this morning.
"I’m not sure what exactly it was that he was upset about or why he chose this kind of behavior today," adds Chief Wilkinson.
Shortly following that police say a different man exited the shop with a gun in his hand and officers told him to drop his weapon. He didn't comply and was shot and killed by one or more members of the police or possibly even somebody in the shop.
The man who died was no stranger to the shop. Police say the other people present were regulars as well. Authorities eventually got the hostage taker to give up and come out without harming anyone inside but the event undoubtedly was a shock to the community.
"Tragedy can strike anywhere and the reality for law enforcement is even if you’re in a small rural area, you have best have some training and equipment to deal with these kinds of things because the initial response to that incident is going to be yours alone to handle. Until you can start to get some other resources pouring in," adds Chief Wilkinson.
The investigation will continue well into the night probably into the week as the Neenah police and the Wisconsin Department of Justice unravel the crime. The names of the hostage taker and the man who died today have not been released at this hour.
