Brookfield Mayor saddened by salon mass shooting
BROOKFIELD -- The Azana Salon & Spa remained off limits Monday, October 22nd as officials continued their investigation following a shooting at the salon Sunday that left three dead and four injured. The gunman, 45-year-old Radcliffe Haughton was found dead inside the salon several hours after the shooting. Police and Brookfield's mayor say by Tuesday, they hope to have a clearer picture of the series of events early Sunday afternoon at the salon.
Brookfield Mayor Steven Ponto says he's saddened by the shooting that claimed three lives at the salon Sunday. Mayor Ponto says he is confident police will find out exactly what happened and why.
Mayor Ponto said Monday was an emotional day as his city tries to heal after Radcliffe Haughton entered the Azana Salon & Spa and opened fire.
Officials discovered Radcliffe Haughton's body inside the salon Sunday evening. An IED found in the building along with the building's sheer size (9,000 square feet) hampered the clearing of the building after the shooting. Thus, officials believed for much of the afternoon Sunday Haughton remained on the loose.
"One individual for whatever reason commits such a senseless act. I mean, ends and disrupts other lives," Mayor Ponto said.
On Monday, the salon was still surrounded by police tape and cars remained in the parking lot as police continued to scour the scene for clues. Investigators had no public comment regarding the ongoing investigation, but the Waukesha County Medical Examiner's Office released the names of the victims.
Police say Haughton killed his ex-wife, 42-year-old Zina Haughton, 35-year-old Cary Robuck of Racine and 38-year-old Maelyn Lind of Oconomowoc.
The four females injured and taken to Froedtert Hospital for treatment have not yet been identified. However, Monday, FOX6 News learned one of those victims was released from the hospital.
"Certainly our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. I feel for everyone who was working at the Azana spa who went through this trauma," Mayor Ponto said.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is still involved in the investigation and has reported the gun used by Haughton was a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun, reportedly purchased from a private citizen on Saturday, October 20th, according to the Associated Press.
The agency is running a trace on the weapon and investigating the IED found in the building, along with a one-pound propane tank found near flammable liquid at the scene.
Meanwhile, Mayor Ponto is keeping in close contact with Brookfield police.
"I think it`s important to go through the timeline and the response so that we can learn from this event, but I think it was handled very, very well," Mayor Ponto said.
Azana Salon & Spa's owner spent Monday with the Brookfield Police Department and tending to details at the salon, as well as visiting with employees and family. FOX6 News has learned she has planned a news conference for Tuesday.
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