St. Croix Sheriff’s deputies shoot, kill man
TOWN OF EAU GALLE – Deputies from the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Department shot and killed a man after he fired shots at them during a stand-off in the Town of Eau Galle Saturday, September 23.
After nearly an hour and a half stand-off with deputies, Patrick McDonnell exited his home around 9:09 pm carrying a rifle and two handguns and confronted officers stationed at the end of his driveway. McDonnell fired at least two shots at law enforcement. One shot struck a squad car that was in the driveway, a report stated.
The three deputies, that had responded to the call, returned fire and fatally wounded McDonnell said St. Croix County Sheriff John A. Shilts. The deputies were not injured during the exchange of gunfire.
The sheriff’s deputies were called to the private residence at 2648 Boston Road in the Town of Eau Galle around 7:21 pm that evening after a woman reported that her husband was intoxicated, suicidal and armed with a gun.
Law enforcement arrived on the scene around 7:46 pm and secured the area.
According to the sheriff’s report, McDonnell had entered the home brandishing a handgun and ordered his wife and two teenaged children to leave. He then followed them out of the house and fired a shot into the air. Neither the woman nor the children were hurt.
It is not clear what may have precipitated the incident but the Shilts noted that a divorce may be involved.
The three deputies have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation said Sheriff Shilts. The investigation is being led by the Pierce County sheriff’s office, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation and the Polk County sheriff’s office.
