By Shereen Siewert
ASHLAND, Wis. — A man wanted for an unspecified crime was shot to death Wednesday in Ashland while allegedly trying to flee from a U.S. Marshals-led task force.
U.S. Marshals are responsible for apprehending wanted fugitives.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice issued a news release late Thursday afternoon that said the Marshals were trying to arrest a man with a warrant at an Aslhand home when the man allegedly entered a vehicle, then struck and pushed a Marshal’s vehicle.
As the man was attempting to flee, officers observed the man handling a firearm, according to the DOJ. Multiple shots were fired while the man was still inside the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene despite lifesaving measures, officials said.
Peter Wasson of the Ashland Daily Press reports the shooting happened at about 3 p.m. Wednesday when “several rapidly-fired shots echoed through the neighborhood south of downtown Ashland.”
Police immediately cordoned off several blocks in the area and focused their attention on two homes in the 800 block of Fourth Avenue West, according to the newspaper’s report.
Neighbors told the Daily Press that the man who lived in one of those homes, known to them only as “Joe,” had moved into the neighborhood late in 2018 and was the man killed by police. After the shooting, police continued to surround adjacent houses from the cover of armored vehicles. Witnesses told the Daily Press it sounded as though police were yelling for someone named “Nelson” to exit with his hands up.
The release did not explain why police continued to demand that someone surrender after they had shot and killed the suspect they were seeking, according to Wasson’s report.
Read the Ashland Daily Press report here.
Police have not named the man.
Two Deputy U.S. Marshals and one Sheboygan Police Officer, who was working with the task force, were involved in this incident.
DCI is leading this investigation, and is assisted by Wisconsin State Patrol, Ashland Police Department, Bayfield County Sheriff’s Office, and Ashland County Sheriff’s Office. The Wisconsin Department of Justice Office of Crime Victim Services is providing services to the family of the deceased. All involved law enforcement are fully cooperating with DCI during this investigation
DCI is continuing to collect evidence and determine the facts of this incident and will turn over investigative reports to the Ashland County District Attorney’s Office when the investigation concludes.
No additional details are currently available.
Peter Wasson of the Ashland Daily Press contributed to this report.
