Man Fatally Shot By Waukesha Police Was Active Parishoner

WAUKESHA, WI — A who was shot and killed by Waukesha police during the early-morning hours of April 15 has been identified as 58-year-old Randy Ashland.

Police said Ashland was shot and killed after he pointed a gun at officers during an incident at Waukesha Memorial Hospital, according to a police news release.

According to an obituary posted online, Ashland was a loving father to his three sons and three grandchildren. He was a member of Brookside Baptist Church and volunteered much of his time there.

"He really loved all of nature’s beauty and was so proud of the great photos he captured with his camera. He was an amazing carpenter and could build anything you could think of. Helping others brought him so much joy. No matter what he was doing or where he was, you would always find him singing," a passage on Ashland's obituary on Harder Funeral Home's website stated.

According to a news release from the Waukesha Police Department, officers were called to the hospital around 1:30 a.m. April 15 for a report of a man with a gun in the parking lot. Police found him near the emergency room.

Authorities were initially told that Ashland was at the emergency room for treatment. Police tried to talk to Ashland and repeatedly told him to drop the gun, the release said.

According to police, Ashland ignored their demands to drop the gun. His "behavior changed" and he pointed the gun at police, which caused officers to open fire, authorities said.

Police took him immediately inside to the emergency room for treatment. He was later pronounced dead.

A gun was recovered from the scene. Nobody else was injured. The police officers involved had between 3-12 years of experience on the force.