Data shows names generally released in officer-involved shooting within a week
CHIPPEWA FALLS — Monday marked day 30 since an officer-involved fatal shooting in the town of Lafayette, and the Wisconsin Department of Justice still has not released the identity of the victim or the officers involved. If that seems like an unusually long time to wait for that information to become public, it is.
According to Leader-Telegram records, the names of people involved in officer-involved shootings in the Chippewa Valley over the past 20 years have generally been released to the public within three to five days of the incident. The release of names generally came out in that timeframe, regardless if the person who was shot died or survived.
In each of these 13 cases in Eau Claire or Chippewa counties, the officers involved were placed on administrative leave during an investigation, and in each case, the officer involved was later cleared.
• On May 24, Eau Claire police officer Ariana Down Larson shot and injured Thomas Burback. Down Larson had responded to a disturbance in the 2200 block of Second Street, and she said Burback had a revolver and pointed it in her direction. Both of their names were released May 29, just five days later. Down Larson was cleared in late July of any wrongdoing, and Burback has since been charged. His trial is slated to begin May 5.
• On Nov. 3, 2022, officer Kristopher O’Neill shot and killed LeKenneth Q. Miller. In that case, Miller had broken into a home on the 400 block of Selma Street, stabbed a woman multiple times inside the home and a second woman fled before police arrived. When Miller charged at O’Neill while still holding the knife, O’Neill shot him. Their names were released Nov. 8, just five days later.
Eau Claire County District Attorney Peter Rindal later cleared O’Neill of any wrong-doing.
• On Sept. 4, 2022, Eau Claire police officers Sam Sperry and Tre Johnson shot and injured Clayton Livingston. Officers had responded to a home in the 1900 block of Declaration Drive. Livingston had pointed a gun at officers. Their identities were all released on Sept. 9, just five days later. The officers were cleared, and Livingston was later charged; he will return to court Feb. 17.
• On July 17, 2017, Sgt. Jesse Henning shot and killed Michael Caponigro during a domestic violence incident at his residence at 4527 Woodford Court, after Caponigro fired a shotgun at officers. Their names were released July 25, just eight days later. Henning was cleared of any wrongdoing.
• On April 8, 2017, Eau Claire police officer Jim Konkel shot and killed 25-year-old Gregory Kever. Kever was shot outside an apartment complex in the 2200 block of Peters Drive after he failed to drop a knife and had charged at officers. Both of their names were released April 12, just four days later. Eau Claire County District Attorney Gary King determined Konkel’s use of deadly force was justified.
• On Jan. 28, 2017, police officer Kristopher O’Neill shot and killed Matthew C. Zank at the Scottish Inn & Suites in Eau Claire. Both of their names were released Jan. 31, just three days later. Eau Claire County District Attorney Gary King cleared O’Neill of any wrong-doing.
• On April 9, 2016, Lake Hallie police officer Adam Meyers shot and killed Melissa M. Abbott at the Lake Hallie Walmart, after Abbott was seen swinging an axe in the store. Both of their names were released April 13, just four days later. Chippewa County District Attorney Steve Gibbs later cleared Meyers of all wong-doing.
• On April 3, 2016, deputy Dustin Walters shot and killed David Mack, a federal fugitive, outside Queens Laundromat at 2611 W. Moholt Drive. Mack armed himself with what appeared to be a Taser-like device, which he put up to the deputy’s chest. Their names were released April 10, seven days later.
• On Jan. 24, 2016, Eau Claire police officer Anthony Briski shot and injured Sol Armer during an incident in the 2700 block of Galloway Street. Armer had a knife and advanced towards several officers. Attempts to use pepper spray and a Taser had failed. Their names were released Jan. 27, just three days later. Briski was later cleared. Armer would later plead guilty, but not guilty due to mental disease or defect, of battery or threat to a police officer.
• On Dec. 14, 2014, Chippewa County deputy William Gray shot and killed Sharrinder Garcha. The two of them were in a vehicle together in a parking lot in the town of Lafayette, when Garcha attacked and repeatedly stabbed Gray. Gray was able to block the attacks, get his gun, and shoot and kill Garcha. Both of their names were released later that day.
• On Jan. 13, 2014, deputy Dustin Walters shot and injured Paul Lynch outside of Lynch’s home on Folsom Street. Lynch’s name was released that day, but Walters’ name wasn’t released until March 2, when he was cleared of wrong-doing by District Attorney Gary King. Lynch was later convicted by a jury of attempted first-degree intentional homicide and was sentenced in May 2015 to 30 years in prison and 10 years of extended supervision.
• On Oct. 5, 2012, officer Jason Ruppert shot and killed Christian Peterson outside of the Culver’s restaurant on Brackett Ave. Their names were released Oct. 7, just two days later. Eau Claire County District Attorney Brian Wright said the shooting was justified and cleared Ruppert of any wrong-doing.
• On Sept. 3, 2009, Eau Claire County deputies Tom Hanson and Bill Straschinske shot and injured David J. Rubitski during a standoff outside Rubitski’s home. The two deputies fired at Rubitski when he pointed his rifle at one of the deputies. Sheriff Ron Cramer released the names of everyone involved on Sept. 5, just two days later. Eau Claire County District Attorney Rich White determined the shooting was justified and cleared the officers. Rubitski would later plead guilty to first-degree recklessly endangering safety, disorderly conduct, and operating a firearm while intoxicated, and was ordered to serve six months in jail. Rubitski died in his home in 2013 at age 48.
Few answers in Chippewa Co. case
On Thursday, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul couldn’t comment on why so little information has been made public about the officer-investigation shooting on Dec. 21. His office has handled the investigation, and all area law enforcement have referred questions to Kaul’s office.
“This is an ongoing matter,” Kaul told area media last week. “Our goal is to always conduct an investigation quickly, but also fully and thoroughly.”
Chippewa County District Attorney Wade Newell confirmed to the Leader-Telegram on Sunday that he has not received any reports at this time. Sheriff Travis Hakes also didn’t have any new updates when asked Monday.
The man reportedly shot at officers, and was killed by officers who returned fire. The officers involved were placed on administrative leave, per agencies’ policies.