One of three people shot at on I-39/90/94 near DeForest is suspect wanted in West Allis homicide



DEFOREST — FOX6 News has learned a man shot at by law enforcement officials on the interstate near DeForest on Sunday, May 1st is the suspect wanted in connection with a homicide Sunday morning in West Allis. The shots fired incident on the interstate closed I-39/90/94 in both directions for hours on Sunday.

This all started around 7:00 a.m. Sunday, when West Allis police were called out to a four-unit apartment building near 92nd and Lincoln. A 911 caller indicated a male suspect was forcibly entering apartments.

Officers arrived on-scene, secured the area and during their search of the building, found a man with a gunshot wound. Officials with the West Allis Fire Department attempted treatment, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

The victim has been identified as 42-year-old Gabriel Sanchez of West Allis.

Officers searched the apartment building and no other victims, nor the suspect, were located.

Neighbors told FOX6 News Sanchez and the suspect both lived in the building.

Following this murder, a manhunt ensued for the suspect -- with police on scene for most of the day. The area was reopened to traffic nearly 12 hours after police first arrived at the scene.

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During the course of the investigation into the homicide, police learned that a person of interest in the shooting was associated with Epikos Church on West Greenfield Avenue.

Police received information indicating the person of interest had made threatening statements regarding a member of the church. West Allis officers responded to the church to provide information to church officials and ensure the safety of church members.

No criminal activity occurred at Epikos Church.

During the course of the investigation, police sent information to law enforcement agencies regarding the persons of interest in this shooting.

On Sunday afternoon, a vehicle pursuit involving several agencies occurred on I-94 EB in Columbia and Dane counties.

It all began around 2:55 p.m. after the Sauk County Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a drive-by shooting on Interstate 90/94 near mile marker 95. The caller reported there was one victim in a vehicle at that location.

A witness then called 911 to report they were following the suspect vehicle, a Chevrolet SUV, eastbound on Interstate 90/94 in Columbia County heading towards Dane County.

Troopers from Wisconsin State Patrol, along with a DNR Warden, an Officer with the Lodi Police Department and Deputies from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the Dane County Sheriff’s Office intercepted the vehicle.

At approximately 3:20 p.m., as the vehicle entered Dane County, road spikes were deployed and the vehicle was disabled. The driver, a 20-year-old male from West Allis, exited the vehicle and began to move towards law enforcement, armed with a hand gun. Despite verbal commands to stop, the suspect continued to advance toward law enforcement officers and two Columbia County Deputies shot the suspect.

The suspect was transported to UW-Hospital via Med Flight, where his condition has not been updated.

There were two male passengers inside the suspect vehicle, ages 30 and 34, who were not injured in the incident. One was transported to Meriter Hospital as a precaution, where he was treated and released.  Both passengers are now in the custody of the Dane County Sheriff’s Office.

The female shooting victim from Sauk County was initially transported by EMS to St. Clare Hospital, and then conveyed by Med Flight to UW Hospital.  Her condition is considered critical.

A preliminary investigation revealed an individual involved in the Sauk County drive-by shooting is the person responsible for the homicide that occurred Sunday morning in West Allis.


Report of shots fired on Hwy 39 near DeForest



Report of shots fired on Hwy 39 near DeForest



Investigators with the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) are assisting the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, Dane County Sheriff’s Office, Sauk County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin State Patrol, and the West Allis Police Department assess the facts and process the scene in this case.

Officials said there is no longer a danger to Epikos Church, church members, or the general public posed by the suspected perpetrators of these incidents.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the West Allis Police Department at (414) 302-8000.