DEPUTY CLEARED IN OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING  122320

Following an investigation by the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation, Marinette County District Attorney DeShea Morrow determined the November 27th shooting death of a Marinette County man by a Marinette County Sheriff’s Deputy was justified.  Morrow says the evidence clearly shows the deputy acted appropriately and in accordance with his professional training and proper legal standards in responding to the reasonable perception of the threat of deadly force being used against him.  According to the DCI reports and statements, two deputies were called to a residence in the Town of Athelstane where a man had come to the house to discuss a family dispute. The man had a gun and was pointing it at his head.  When the deputies arrived, the man took off in his vehicle, driving at unsafe speeds and cutting through the yards of other residences before returning to the residence that he had left from.  The suspect exited his vehicle and faced the deputy with a gun in his hand. When the suspect made a quick sweeping motion with the gun at the deputy, the deputy fired at the suspect who died from the gunshot wounds he received.  The suspect was identified as Duane Rich of the Town of Wausaukee.