Undercover investigator eventually kills suspect
SLN staff
Updated to include the identity of Anthony Griger, the 22-year-old victim from Elkhorn.
Tragedy struck twice at two separate Racine County gas stations Tuesday morning, leaving two people dead, and an undercover Sheriff’s official hospitalized with injuries.
Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling, in a Tuesday afternoon press briefing, said the events began at 7:30 a.m. in the parking lot of Pilot Travel Center in the Village of Caledonia.
Schmaling, citing preliminary reports, said a 33-year-old man from Hartland approached a 22-year-old Elkhorn man – later identifed as Anthony Griger, and “executed” the man while he was filling up his gas tank.
Schmaling, who watched the shooting on surveillance video, “found it to be extremely disturbing.”
After killing the 22-year-old man, Schmaling said, the Hartland resident started shooting at another citizen at the gas station.
“Thankfully, that person was not injured,” he said.
The suspect then fled eastbound on Highway K at a high rate of speed, according to Schmaling, who noted Village of Caledonia police officers responded immediately to the area.
The police officer witnessed the suspect aggressively pulling into the parking lot at a Mobile Gas Station at highways K and M, where the suspect allegedly attempted, once again, to shoot at a person putting fuel in his vehicle.
However, this time, the person happened to be an undercover investigator with the Racine County Sheriff’s Office.
“The suspect quickly approached the investigator with a gun drawn and began to shoot at him at a close distance,” Schmaling said, adding the investigator and suspect exchanged gunfire.
“The suspect was struck multiple times and died as a result of his injuries,” he said.
Schmaling said the undercover investigator was transported to Ascension Hospital, where he is receiving medical care.
Schmaling visited the investigator and reportedly said he is conscious and alert.
“It should be noted, this is 7:30 in the morning at this Mobil station. It was bustling with activity, people were getting their gas and people were getting their morning cup of coffee,” Schmaling said. “There was no doubt in my mind that the quick and heroic actions of our investigator saved lives today.”
Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave commended the officer’s actions in a statement.
“We are reminded that the men and women of the Racine County Sheriff’s Office risk their lives each time they put that uniform on. Our Racine County employees are like a family and when one hurts, we all hurt. Our thoughts are with the investigator as he recovers,” he said.
“Sadly, there was a loss of life during today’s incident and my deepest condolences go out to the family, friends and loved ones of the victim. This was a senseless act of violence that tragically took the life of an innocent person. I cannot imagine what his family is going through but we stand with them through this difficult time.”
Schmaling, who did not release the names of the people involved, said the state Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigations will be handling the investigation because it included an officer-involved shooting.
