ROTHSCHILD, Wis - Grief weighed heavily on the community in the Wausau, Wisconsin area on Wednesday after police confirmed four people were killed, including a police officer, in multiple shootings committed by one person on Wednesday.
The three civilians and one Everest Metro officer killed are not being named at this time, police said.
"Please keep them in your prayers, and with our officers," said Everest Metro Police Chief Wally Sparks.
The suspect is in custody and his condition is unknown, Sparks said.
"I want to let the community know there are no current threats, and there are no dangers out in the community," Sparks said.
The investigation is still ongoing and the scenes were still active as of Wednesday night, police said.
"There are more than 100 law enforcement officers in the field right now, working hard on several different crime scenes," said Jason Smith of the Wisconsin Department of Justice.
Police first responded to Marathon Savings Bank for a report of a domestic disturbance early Wednesday afternoon, they said. They then received reports of shootings at a law firm in Schofield and at the Aspen Apartment complex in Weston.
Neighbors caught in the crossfire were shocked to learn that something like this could happen in their own backyard.
"I walk out, and there was a cop with a gun drawn on the side of the building, and he was yelling out 'Ma'am, ma'am,' and I looked at him, and I freaked out, and ran back into my apartment," said Brianna Bernarde, who lives in the Aspen Apartments.
Bernarde said she and her boyfriend had to be escorted by police away from the scene for their safety.
Students were released late from schools in the D.C. Everest School District, and students from Weston Elementary and Idea Charter School were bused to another location to be picked up.
