By Shereen Siewert
The suspect accused in a Wausau southeast side shooting spree that left one person dead and two others injured is identified in Marathon County Jail documents as Henry V. West.
West, 64, is jailed on a preliminary charge of first degree intentional homicide.
Neighbors of West tell Wausau Pilot and Review that the suspect, known as “Hank,” made statements that they would “see him on the news,” and that they contacted police prior to Oct. 3 with their concerns. Police have not yet confirmed those reports.
Court records show West was ordered evicted Oct. 1 from his Fullmer Street apartment in Schofield, just days before he allegedly set a fire at the complex. Crews were called to the complex at about 8:15 a.m. Thursday, about 30 minutes before reports of the shooting at Pine Grove Cemetery in Wausau.
Police say when they arrived at the cemetery, they discovered three victims, all of whom were shot. One person died at the scene. Two additional victims were transported to hospitals for treatment of gunshot wounds.
The identities of the victims have not been publicly released and police have not yet specified the condition of the two surviving victims.
Police say the suspected shooter was a former employee at the cemetery, located at 1501 Grand Ave., and all three victims were either employees or related to an employee at the cemetery.
Multiple law enforcement agencies and the Marathon County Bomb Squad were searching West’s apartment and storage unit until late Thursday evening. Residents at the complex were not allowed back into their homes Thursday night. The Schofield City Hall was open to displaced residents Thursday night.
West is expected to appear in court at 2 p.m. for an initial appearance on the charge, which carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison upon conviction.
