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“He aimed the gun at us:” Couple says drive-by shooting on 90/94 happened right in front of them
"He aimed the gun at us:" Couple says drive-by shooting on 90/94 happened right in front of them
MILWAUKEE -- A statement from the Drug Enforcement Agency says 44-year-old Tracy Czaczkowski has died from her injuries in the wake of a shooting on I-90/94 on Sunday afternoon, May 1st.
However, a bulletin from the Associated Press on Tuesday evening indicates Czaczkowski has been declared brain dead, but remains on life support in order to preserve her organs for donation.
Tracy Czaczkowski
Czaczkowski was wounded in a drive-by shooting on the interstate near mile marker 95 around 3:00 p.m. Sunday near DeForest.
The statement from the DEA reads as follows:
Tracy Czaczkowski
FOX6 News spoke with a couple who said the drive-by shooting played out right in front of them.
"It just breaks my heart," the couple said.
The couple asked that FOX6 News not identify them. They said they were headed home Sunday, just past the Dells, when they noticed a Chevy Blazer, which sped past them on the right.
"He tried to hit the SUV in front of us and then there was a black car in front of the SUV. Next thing I know, everyone is slamming on their brakes and the black car shot onto the median and a couple other cars shot onto the shoulder," the couple said.
The couple said they had no idea someone had been shot. They followed the Blazer, but soon realized that wasn't safe.
"We`re watching him aim the gun out the window and then several times, he turned around, looked right at us, and aimed the gun at us," the couple said.
The couple says their two grandchildren, ages seven and 10, were riding in the back seat.
"We know the 10-year-old did see the gun at one point," the wife said. "Immediately, the first thing he said was ‘don’t worry honey, it’s just a BB gun,’ and she just went back to listening to her music then."
The couple kept their distance, and tried to warn passing drivers of the danger ahead. They say the suspect, identified by Dane County authorities as 20-year-old Zachary Hays, was taunting them.
"He kept trying to wave me up to come alongside of him," the husband said. "I wouldn’t, and then he started getting madder and madder. He started flippin’ me off and he kept going back and forth in the two lanes."
Earlier Sunday, West Allis police say Hays shot and killed 42-year-old Gabriel Sanchez inside an apartment building near 92nd and Lincoln.
On Sunday afternoon, officials say Hays fired three rounds into a vehicle on I-90/94, containing a family of four. 44-year-old Tracy Czaczkowski was struck in the neck, and later died at the hospital. Czaczkowski's 43-year-old husband, who has worked for the DEA for 11 years, and two young children were not hurt.
The family was apparently headed home from the Dells.
"Just like us. We were on a vacation. You`re coming back with the kids, and unknown to you, some crazy with a gun is gonna change your family for good. That`s it. That family is now broken and they`re forever changed," the couple said.
PHOTO GALLERY
After the drive-by shooting, Columbia County Sheriff’s officials received a report of a vehicle headed eastbound on 90/94 at a high rate of speed. At the same time, Columbia County Sheriff’s officials learned from Sauk County officials of the drive-by shooting that had just occurred in Sauk County.
Columbia County Sheriff’s officials were able to obtain a description of the suspect vehicle and a license plate number.
A Columbia County Sheriff’s deputy and a DNR warden were behind the suspect vehicle on 90/94 at Highway 78, and a second deputy joined the pursuit.
Around 3:20 p.m., Dane County Sheriff’s deputies deployed stop sticks and the suspect vehicle’s front tires went flat.
Around 3:22 p.m., officials said Hays exited the vehicle and walked toward deputies with a firearm in his hand. Meister said he did not listen to commands from law enforcement officials.
He was then shot by two Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies — with 9.5 and 4.5 years of service.
Those deputies have been placed on administrative leave.
Report of person shot in traffic on Hwy 39 near DeForest
Officials said Hays' two brothers, ages 30 and 34 were also taken into custody.
The 30-year-old brother has been identified as Jeremy Hays. The 34-year-old brother is not being identified due to his cognitive disability.
Officials are asking that anyone who was driving on I-90/94 on Sunday afternoon who may have witnessed something that could help in this investigation call authorities.