Accused Highway Shooter Who Took Mom's Life Charged

A 20-year-old man who randomly opened fire on a suburban Chicago family driving home from the Wisconsin Dells — fatally wounding the mother as her children watched — was charged today with first-degree intentional homicide.

Zachary Hays, 20, of West Allis, WI, also faces three felony counts of recklessly endangering safety, according to prosecutors, for his actions on Sunday. Hays and his two brothers were in a car in I-90/94 when Hays began firing at other motorists near Lake Delton, police said.

He struck the car driven by Greg Czazkowski of Buffalo Grove three times, with one bullet striking 44-year-old Tracy Czazkowski in the neck. She was airlifted to a local hospital and remained on life support until Monday when she died. Her two children were also in the car when she was shot.

Deputies later caught up with Hays and shot him on the highway because he refused to drop his gun. Hays had been on the run ever since early Sunday morning when he's believed to have shot and killed a 42-year-old man in West Allis.

His brother, Jeremy Hays, 30, told investigators Zachary was "extremely paranoid" after smoking marijuana and was carrying a handgun and a long-barreled .45 caliber revolver, according to charging documents. He also threatened to kill Jeremy and his other brother, a mentally challenged 34-year-old who has not been charged, according to authorities.

Jeremy Hays is being held on a tentative charge of felon in possession of a firearm

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Driving in a Chevy Blazer, Zachary Hays and his brothers stopped at a Burger King near the Dells and then got onto the interstate. The highway was crowded with many cars leaving the Dells after the weekend.

Czazkowskis were in a black BMW sedan with tinted windows. Their car was shot when Hays slowed down to let the sedan pass him, according to prosecutors

Hays was holding one of his guns in his lap as he drove and also was pointing the gun at various cars, according to his brother.

Witnesses told KTTC.com on Sunday the driver of the Blazer also was tossing beer cans onto the highway. At least one other car was struck by bullets, driven by a woman from Florida. Several police agencies engaged in a high-speed chase, and the SUV was stopped when Hays drove over road spikes.

Hays faces a life sentence in prison if he's found guilty of the crime.

The DEA, where Greg Czackowski has worked for the past 11 years, released a statement Tuesday.

"Tracy was a loving wife of 15 years, a mother of two tender age children, daughter and good friend to all," according to the DEA statement. "The family would like thank everyone for their prayers and out pouring of support for Tracy."

Dennis Wirchen, a special agent in charge of the DEA Chicago division, told the Daily Herald the shooting was “as random as it could be” and said it is not believed to be connected in any way to Greg’s job with the DEA.

Patch editor Scott Anderson contributed to this report.

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