Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling said the initial shooting happened about 7:30 a.m. at the Pilot Travel Center in the village of Caledonia. Schmaling said a 32-year-old man approached and "viciously executed" a 22-year-old man putting gas in his car.
Investigators said the gunman is from Hartland, Wis., about 45 minutes northwest of Racine, and so far, seems to have no connection to the community. Investigators are trying to figure out why he chose this gas station to start a deadly shooting spree that might have ended with more casualties had he aimed at a different victim.
At 7:30 a.m., just yards off a busy interstate, investigators say a gunman inexplicably, and perhaps randomly, picked a young man pumping gas at a Caledonia pilot station and executed him. Investigators say they saw it on surveillance video: one single, fatal shot to the 22-year-old's head.
"I personally watched this video, ladies and gentleman, of this horrific event I found it to be extremely disturbing and heart wrenching to view," said Sheriff Christopher Schmaling, Racine County Sheriff's Office.
Without breaking stride, investigators say the 32-year-old gunman turned and fired at another car passing through the Pilot parking lot, but missed. From there, deputies said the suspect tore off down Highway K and headed to another gas station about two miles away.
"Officers from the Caledonia Police Department were in the area immediately and witnessed the suspect aggressively pull into a parking lot at the Mobile station," Schmaling said.
There, investigators say he targeted another man.
"Unbeknownst to the suspect, there was an undercover investigator with 21 years of experience with the Racine's Sheriff's Office and was just beginning his shift and was putting gas into his unmarked squad car," Schmaling said. "The suspect quickly approached the investigator with a gun drawn and began to shoot at him at a close distance."
Experience took over. The veteran deputy fired back, killing the gunman almost instantly.
"It should be noted, ladies and gentlemen, this is 7:30 in the morning at this Mobil station. It was bustling with activity. People getting their gas. People getting their morning cup of coffee. There is no doubt in my mind the quick, heroic actions of our investigator saved lives today," he said.
"This incident was kept from being even more tragic by heroic actions of the officer," said Chief Christopher Botsch, Caledonia Police Department.
Deputies said the officer was taken to a hospital in Racine. Authorities have not provided an update on his condition but said he was conscious and alert at the time.
In a statement, Pilot Co. spokeswoman Stephanie Myers said it's "an open investigation, we are cooperating fully with local authorities." The statement went on to say that the "safety and well-being" of the company's' employees and customers "is always our main concern."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Caledonia, WI shooting: Man 'viciously executed' as he pumped gas; suspect fatally shot by undercover officer - WLS-TV
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