Part-time policeman 'admitted shooting rampage'
An off-duty sheriff’s deputy admitted he went on a shooting rampage and killed six young people who had gathered for pizza and movies before being killed himself, US authorities said today.
Tyler Peterson, 20, a Forest County deputy sheriff in Wisconsin and part-time police officer, spoke to Crandon police chief John Dennee over the phone after the shootings, Wisconsin attorney general JB Van Hollen said.
Peterson was later involved in an exchange of gun fire with police, but it is not yet clear what caused his death, authorities said.
Mr Van Hollen said seven young people were having a “pizza and movies” party in an apartment close to Crandon town centre, 225 miles north of Milwaukee in an area known for logging and outdoor activities.
At around 2.47am yesterday, Peterson entered the building and an argument ensued.
He said Peterson left but forced his way back in after retrieving an AR-15 rifle from his vehicle. It is the same type of rifle used by the sheriff’s department, but it is unclear whether it was his official weapon.
Mr Van Hollen said Peterson fired around 30 rounds inside the apartment, killing six of the seven people there, and critically injuring the other.
Three of the victims were pupils at the high school in the small northern Wisconsin town, and three were recent graduates.
Peterson also shot at the first Crandon police officer to arrive at the scene, who received minor injuries.
He then fled and had a series of telephone conversations with the authorities, including the Crandon police chief, in which he admitted he was responsible for the shootings.
Later, both police and Peterson fired shots during the exchange of gun fire and his cause of death has not yet been established, Mr Van Hollen said.
Post-mortem examinations were being carried out today on all seven people who were killed.
