www.cnn.com/2004/US/11/23/hunters.killed/index.html
Five others died in the immediate aftermath of the shootings Sunday after noon, which Sawyer County Sheriff James Meier said were sparked by a dis pute over a tree stand on the first weekend of Wisconsin's deer hunting season. Denny Drew, 55, was one of three hunters who initially survived the shoot ings in rural Sawyer County. A family statement said he died Monday even ing after being transferred from Lakeview Medical Center in nearby Rice Lake to a hospital in Marshfield, about 120 miles from the scene of the shooting. "The family is requesting privacy as they deal with this very public trag edy," said the statement, which a hospital official read to CNN. "The fa mily wishes to express sincere thanks to the community for their heartfe lt support during this very difficult time." Paul, Minnesota - - but no formal charges have been filed against him, Meier told reporter s "This is an incredible tragedy," Wisconsin Gov. "One in w hich a great family tradition like a deer hunt has turned into such a gr eat loss for the families involved. The whole state of Wisconsin feels t he deepest sympathy and pain." The shootings occurred after hunters returning to a rural cabin saw a man in a deer stand, a platform built in a tree to give hunters a better vi ew, on private property. The hunter radioed someone to ask about the man 's presence there. Meier said the man had apparently been hunting and had gotten lost. One of the hunters "approached the person and asked him to leave, at whic h time the landowners and the occupants of the cabin came on the scene. The suspect got down from the deer stand, walked approximately 40 yards, fiddled with his rifle in some way ... He said it appeared some of the targeted hunters tried to fire back. When other hunters appeared on the scene, they also were hit by gunfire, Meier said. The sho oter used an SKS 762 mm semiautomatic rifle, the sheriff said. Two bodies were found near each other, and the others were found over an area of about 100 yards, he said. Drew had been shot in the abdomen and suffered extensive injuries to his large and small intestines and pancreas, said Dr. He was in surgery for three hours Sunday, and doctors had said earlier Monday that his condition was improving. The shootings also claimed the lives of Robert Crotteau, 42, and his son, Joey Crotteau, 20; and Jessica Willers, 2 7, the daughter of Terry Willers, who was wounded. Two wounded survivors remained hospitalized Monday night. Terry Willers was transferred to a clinic in nearby Marshfield with a nec k and shoulder wound, and Lauren Hesebeck remained at Lakeview with a gu nshot wound to the shoulder and arm. After the incident, the shooter got lost again and was led from the woods by two hunters who were unaware of the incident. A Department of Natura l Resources officer recognized the deer license on his back from a descr iption given by one of the shooting victims, said Chief Deputy Tim Zeigl e of the Sawyer County Sheriff's Department. The killings stunned Exeland, a village of 219 people about 135 miles nor theast of Minneapolis. Barron County Sheriff Tom Richie said the victims "Are all well-known, we ll-respected members of the community." Vang came to the United States from Laos in 1980 and became a US citize n The married father of six is a truck driver in St. Vang's criminal record in the United States was clean except for a domest ic incident three years ago in which he allegedly waved a handgun at his wife, who later declined to press charges against him.
|
http://csua.com/feed/