DOJ Investigates After Oconto Sheriff's Deputy Fatally Shoots Person

OCONTO, WI — An Oconto County Sheriff deputy shot and killed a person during a traffic stop on Wednesday, the Wisconsin Department of Justice announced.

The sheriff's deputy responded to a call for a reckless driver on Interstate 41 near the Township of Oconto around 2:41 p.m., state investigators said.

When deputies pulled the car over, the driver stepped out visibly injured, the DOJ said. While law enforcement helped the driver, the passenger got out holding a knife.

The passenger approached the deputy and refused to listen to commands, before the deputy shot the passenger, state investigators said. Law enforcement tried to render first aid, but the passenger died at the scene.

The driver was taken to a nearby hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, the DOJ said. No law enforcement were hurt in the encounter, but the deputy was placed on administrative leave per the sheriff department's policy.

The Division of Criminal Investigation will lead the investigation with help from the Wisconsin State Patrol, the Oconto Police Department, the Brown County Medical Examiner’s Office and DOJ’s Office of Crime Victim Services, the DOJ said.