Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation Case Report on shooting of Trooper Casper

Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation Case Report Case/Report Number: 15-1570/105

DCI Case #15-1570/105 - Final Case Report - Officer-Involved Death - 05/11/2015

Trooper - Trevor John Casper Suspect - Steven Timothy Snyder

Summary of Events

On Tuesday, March 24, 2015, Wisconsin Department of Justice / Division of Criminal Investigation personnel responded to the report of an armed bank robbery and related homicide in the Wausaukee area of Marinette County, Wisconsin. DCI obtained information about the suspect (believed at the time to be Steven T. Snyder) and the vehicle he was using and broadcasted that information in a Crime Alert to law enforcement officers in the region.

Wisconsin State Patrol personnel, including Trooper Trevor Casper, were advised of the information related to the Marinette County armed robbery and homicide and the suspect and vehicle information and were set up at various locations in an attempt to locate the suspect and/or vehicle. Trooper Casper was located at a highway crossover on Highway 41 near County Road OO in Fond du Lac County when he observed the suspect vehicle being driven southbound on Highway 41 and radioed that information at approximately 5:33 pm. Trooper Casper followed the suspect vehicle from a distance, without any emergency lights or siren activated.

Troopers Clarissa Justmann and Andrew Hyer were located at a highway crossover south of Fond du Lac, WI looking for the suspect’s vehicle when they heard Trooper Casper’s radio transmission about locating the suspect vehicle. Troopers Justmann and Hyer immediately began heading northbound on Highway 41 towards Trooper Casper and Snyder’s vehicle to assist Trooper Casper, when he was prepared to make a traffic stop on the vehicle.

Snyder drove south on Highway 41 and then east on Johnson Street in the City of Fond du Lac, WI. He then drove south into a shopping/business/restaurant area. As Trooper Casper continued to follow Snyder’s vehicle and Troopers Justmann, Hyer and others were beginning to converge on the area; Snyder made a sudden turn in his vehicle, went back in the direction of Trooper Casper and shot at Trooper Casper who was still in his squad car. Snyder got out of his vehicle while it was still in “drive” and continued to shoot at Trooper Casper. Trooper Casper got out of his squad car while it was still in “drive” and returned fire at Snyder. Trooper Casper and Snyder fired shots at each other as they ran around Trooper Casper’s moving squad car and then Snyder ran to the southwest towards an apartment building. Snyder’s vehicle eventually came to a stop on the west side of North Berger Parkway just east of the northeast corner of the Pick N Save Store building located at 760 West Johnson Street. Trooper Casper’s squad car came to a stop on the west side of North Berger Parkway just northeast of the apartment building located at 136 North Berger Parkway.

As Trooper Justmann was nearing the area of the Pick N Save Store parking lot north of the store, Trooper Justmann observed where Trooper Casper’s squad car was (at approximately 5:38 pm) Page 1

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Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation Case Report Case/Report Number: 15-1570/105

and that he (Trooper Casper) and another subject (later determined to be Snyder) were outside of the squad car shooting at each other. Trooper Justmann radioed that Trooper Casper was out of his squad car, the suspect had a gun and then “Shots fired! Shots fired!”. Trooper Justmann continued to the area where Trooper Casper’s squad car was and parked to the east of it. Trooper Hyer arrived at the scene a short time later and parked his squad behind Trooper Justmann’s squad. Wisconsin State Patrol Captain Anthony Burrell also arrived at the scene a short time later and parked behind Trooper Casper’s squad.

Law enforcement officers from Fond du Lac Police Department and Fond du Lac Sheriff’s Department also arrived at the scene within seconds and assisted. Troopers provided first aid to Trooper Casper at the scene and then loaded him into Trooper Hyer’s squad car to transport him to a medical facility. Trooper Hyer drove his squad car while Captain Burrell was in the back seat with Trooper Casper. Snyder was quickly located lying on the ground northeast of the apartment complex that he’d been running toward. Officers commanded him to show his hands, but he made no movements at all that could be observed. Trooper Justmann provided information to other officers at the scene as to her observations of the suspect and what had happened. The Fond du Lac Police Department Bearcat armored response and rescue vehicle arrived at the scene and provided cover to officers commanding Snyder to comply with their directives. The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Department armored response and rescue vehicle arrived later and officers utilized it to approach Snyder. The officers verified that it appeared that Snyder was no longer alive and they moved the handguns that Snyder had in his possession, or near his body, away from him.

Once, it was determined that Snyder was no longer a threat, firefighter/paramedic personnel at the scene (John Rolfe and Jed Rathke) approached Snyder with their medical equipment. At that time, Snyder was lying on his back, not moving and not breathing and his eyes were open with the pupils dilated, fixed and non-reactive. His arms were out and above his head in a “Y position” and there were two handguns on the grass near Snyder. Rathke checked for a pulse on Snyder but there was none. It was determined that Snyder was deceased. Rolfe advised law enforcement officers in the area that Snyder was deceased. Rathke and Rolfe also observed a pistol ammunition magazine attached to each of Snyder’s ankles.

When Trooper Casper was being driven from the scene of the shooting, Trooper Hyer observed a Fond du Lac City ambulance a few blocks from the scene. He stopped and Trooper Casper was loaded onto a stretcher/gurney and placed into the ambulance where emergency medical personnel provided medical treatment to him. The ambulance was then driven, with Trooper Casper inside (and Trooper Hyer and Captain Burrell following) to the Fond du Lac Airport where a medical helicopter was waiting to transport him to a trauma facility. Prior to the helicopter transporting Trooper Casper, while emergency medical personnel were still stabilizing him, it was determined that Trooper Casper had died from the gunshot wounds he’d sustained.

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Neighborhood Canvas Interviews

X.L. was a tenant at the apartment complex located at 136 N. Berger Parkway in Fond du Lac, WI. X.L. was in the garage area for the apartment complex with two other subjects on the afternoon of 03/24/2015 when he heard what he believed to be fireworks exploding. X.L. heard 3 or 4 bangs and then there was silence. A couple of minutes later, X.L. heard sirens. X.L. and the other two subjects went into his apartment and locked the door. While in the apartment, X.L. believed he heard gunshots – possibly twice – and police yelling.

W.V. was working at the Pick N Save store located at 760 W. Johnson Street in Fond du Lac, WI on the afternoon of 03/24/2015. W.V. was outside of the store when he heard multiple police sirens. W.V. saw 2 marked Wisconsin State Patrol squads in the parking lot traveling eastbound with their emergency lights and sirens activated. W.V. heard numerous gunshots being fired from somewhere outside of the store – possibly around the corner and behind it on the southeast side. W.V. thought that he heard about 15 shots fired “pretty quick”. W.V. said that he heard a spurt of gunshots, then a second or two later, another sequence of multiple gunshots. W.V. said that he was not able to see who was firing the gunshots, but he could hear them.

N.V. was a tenant at the apartment complex located at 136 N. Berger Parkway in Fond du Lac, WI. N.V. advised that she was at her apartment at approximately 5:30 pm on 03/24/2015 when she heard multiple gunshots fired to the northeast of her apartment. N.V. said that she heard about 10 shots fired “rapid” and “fast”. N.V. observed flashing lights to the east in front of the apartment building. N.V. said that she thought she heard a second set of gunshots at about 6:10 pm. N.V. thought there had been at least 3 or 4 shots. N.V. also said that she saw a SWAT team running around the apartment building at one point.

A.B. was a tenant at the apartment complex located at 136 N. Berger Parkway in Fond du Lac, WI. A.B. was sleeping at her apartment when she was awakened by someone pounding on her door at approximately 5:37 pm on 03/24/2015. When A.B. went to answer her door, there was no one there. At approximately 6:15 pm, A.B. heard police officers pounding on her neighbor’s door. A.B. made contact with those officers who told her to stay inside her apartment where it was safe. A.B. later spoke with SWAT officers who, with her consent, searched her apartment for bullet holes. Those officers did not locate any bullet holes in A.B.’s apartment.

J.L. was a tenant at the apartment complex located at 136 N. Berger Parkway in Fond du Lac, WI. J.L. advised that he was sleeping in his apartment when he woke to the sound of police sirens at 5:34 pm on 03/24/2015. J.L. later looked out of the entry doors facing the east of the apartment complex and observed police cars parked there.

M.S. was shopping at the Pick N Save store located at 760 W. Johnson Street in Fond du Lac, WI on the afternoon of 03/24/2015. As M.S. was leaving the store, he heard multiple and rapidly fired gunshots. M.S. then observed a police car being driven quickly in the direction of the vacant

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Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation Case Report Case/Report Number: 15-1570/105

Home Depot store. M.S. then saw an unoccupied vehicle coasting down Berger Parkway with its driver’s side door open. That vehicle came to a stop near the Pick N Save driveway to/from Berger Parkway. M.S. saw other police vehicles arrive on scene as well as several different news agencies. M.S. was interviewed by a news channel and then left the area and returned to his residence.

C.L. and K.S. were tenants who shared an apartment at the complex located at 136 N. Berger Parkway in Fond du Lac, WI. Both C.L. and K.S. were sleeping on the afternoon of 03/24/2015 when they both woke to the sound of what sounded like gunshots at approximately 5:30 pm. C.L. said that he heard 5 or 6 gunshots in a short burst. C.L. said that it sounded like a semi-automatic gun due to how quickly the shots were fired. At approximately 6:11 pm, C.L. looked out of the apartment windows and saw 5 – 8 police vehicles and 2 SWAT trucks on North Berger Parkway northeast of the apartment. C.L. heard law enforcement making commands of , “This is the Fond du Lac Police Department ... Put your hands up!” At approximately 6:20 pm, a SWAT team member came into the apartment to ensure that C.L. and K.S. were alright and to search for any bullet holes in their apartment. None were found.

M.H. was a tenant at the apartment complex located at 136 N. Berger Parkway in Fond du Lac, WI. M.H. was walking from the garage to the apartment complex when he heard a series of 5 – 6 gunshots, then a short pause, then another series of 5 – 6 gunshots. M.H. initially thought the sounds were fireworks. M.H. walked to the area on the northwest corner of the apartment building and looked around the corner. M.H. saw a male subject lying on the ground to the east of M.H.’s position. M.H. also saw police officers located to the east and northeast of where the subject was lying on the ground. M.H. heard the male subject moan one time, then didn’t hear any other sounds from him. M.H. said that he saw the male subject’s left hand extended and his right hand was on his chest.

N.L. was a tenant at the apartment complex located at 136 N. Berger Parkway in Fond du Lac, WI. On 03/24/2015, N.L. was in a garage to the west of the apartment complex with two friends. N.L. heard gunshots while she was in the garage, but initially thought that it was fireworks. N.L. thought she heard 3 shots, then a pause, then 3 more shots. N.L. also heard the sound of police sirens at the time of or shortly after the gunshots. N.L. didn’t see anyone else in the parking lot at the time of hearing the gunshots. After hearing the gunshots, N.L. and her friends went into the apartment of a friend.

J.W.- 1 was a tenant at the apartment complex located at 136 N. Berger Parkway in Fond du Lac, WI. On 03/24/2015, J.W. was in a garage to the west of the apartment complex with two friends when she heard what sounded like fireworks going off. J.W. later believed that the sounds were actually gunshots. J.W. recalled that there were multiple gunshots, then a short pause and then more gunshots. J.W. also heard the sound of police sirens at the time of or shortly after the gunshots. J.W. and her friends went inside the apartment shortly after hearing the gunshots.

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J.W.- 2 was working at the Pizza Hut restaurant located at 718 W. Johnson Street in Fond du Lac, WI on the afternoon of 03/24/2015. He finished work at approximately 5:30 pm and was walking to his car, J.W. heard what sounded like 2 – 5 gunshots. J.W. said that some of the shots sounded different and overlapped each other so J.W. believed that it may have been 2 different guns or different calibers of guns that were shot. J.W. then heard the sound of police sirens and observed more police squads on North Berger Parkway by the Pick N Save store. J.W. saw 3 – 4 uniformed officers standing by a person lying on the ground near the back of a squad car. The officers picked the person up and dragged him to a nearby police van or SUV. J.W. was able to identify the person on the ground as a uniformed officer after the other officers picked him up.

Citizen Witness Interviews

S.W.

S.W. was driving to visit a friend and was eastbound in the alley south of the Pick N Save Store and west of North Berger Parkway. S.W. noticed a marked police vehicle with its red and blue emergency lights activated stopped on North Berger Parkway about 35 feet east of her location. She also saw another vehicle with police markings arriving at about the same time as she noticed the first squad car. S.W. noticed a white male with dark clothing and buzzed hair (later identified as Snyder) who was “bear crawling” between a squad car and S.W.’s vehicle toward a row of bushes. S.W. saw a uniformed police officer (later determined to be Trooper Casper) behind the rear corner of the squad car closest to S.W.’s vehicle firing 3 or 4 rounds at Snyder as Snyder was firing a handgun at Trooper Casper. S.W. saw the trooper grasp his chest area and collapse onto his back immediately after firing his weapon.

S.W. could no longer see where Snyder had gone. Within approximately 10 seconds, S.W. saw a female police officer with blonde hair (determined to be Trooper Justmann) approaching the bushes and pointing a long gun in the direction of the bushes. S.A. believed that the female officer fired the long gun one time. The female officer then returned to where the officer who had been shot was lying down and dragged him behind the squad car. S.W. heard the female officer yelling “Trevor” as she was pulling him. A short time later, a white male police officer arrived and assisted the female officer with tending to the officer who had been shot.

In examining squad video, it was determined that the emergency lights in Trooper Casper’s squad had not been activated.

S.C.

S.C. advised that she had just left the Fond du Lac, WI McDonald’s restaurant and was driving home. S.C. saw a Wisconsin State Patrol squad car driven by a younger male eastbound through the Pick N Save store parking lot and then south on North Berger Parkway. S.C. turned south behind the squad car and noticed that the squad car was traveling slowly with no emergency lights or siren activated.

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Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation Case Report Case/Report Number: 15-1570/105

S.C. said that as the squad car was nearing the driveway on the south side of the Pick N Save store, it slowed down and looked like it was preparing to stop. S.C. began to pass the squad car on the left side. S.C. then noticed another car pull out from the rear entrance to the Pick N Save store and drive northbound between the squad car and S.C.’s car. S.C. noted that the driver of the other car was a male and he was wearing dark clothing. As the car was between the squad car and S.C.’s car, S.C. heard a gunshot. S.C. said that the gunshot was heard before either the squad car or “shooter’s car” doors were opened.

S.C. drove forward and pulled to the side of the road then watched her rear view mirror to see what was happening. S.C. saw the “shooter” get out of his car as it was still moving and also saw the trooper get out of what she believed was his passenger side door. S.C. said that she was watching what was happening in her rear view mirror and it was a traumatic event, so she was unsure of specific details. S.C. saw the “shooter” run around the front of the squad car and he was in the firing position with two hands on his gun with his arms extended. S.C. also saw the trooper beside the squad car rolling on the grass on the ground.

S.C. was fearful that the trooper was dying and wasn’t sure if other law enforcement was aware of the situation. S.C. was reaching for her cell phone when she heard sirens coming and saw lights in her rear view mirror. S.C. didn’t see where the “shooter” went after he was in the area in front of the squad car. S.C. said that she never saw the trooper firing his gun, but she did hear multiple gun shots in fast succession. S.C. estimated that she heard 4 or 5 quick shots, a pause, and then a couple more gun shots.

S.C. feared that the “shooter” was still on the loose, so she left the area. S.C. later called the Fond du Lac Police Department and advised that she had witnessed the shooting incident and had information about it.

Interviews of Wife and Associates of Steven Timothy Snyder:

S.S.

S.S. was the estranged wife of Steven Timothy Snyder. She advised that she and Snyder had been married to each other in September of 2007 and she ended up taking the children and leaving him in September of 2013 because of his physical abuse towards her, having affairs with other women, living a dangerous lifestyle and other issues. She talked about a domestic abuse incident in December of 2014 which resulted in her receiving a concussion, being in the hospital and getting a restraining order against Snyder. She also mentioned an incident in which Snyder assaulted her then-boyfriend in March of 2015. S.S. said that when she and Snyder were arguing and yelling at each other during the domestic dispute on Christmas of 2014, Snyder responded to S.S. that he only needed three months and he’d be out of her life. S.S. found it interesting that Snyder died exactly one day shy of three months after the domestic assault.

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According to S.S., Snyder was a private and anti-social person with very few friends who liked to provoke and antagonize other people. She said that Snyder owned his own masonry business. S.S. mentioned that Snyder was very eccentric and obsessive about things. She recalled that he would train daily to see what his body could do physically, was a “health freak” and was training in mixed martial arts (MMA) fighting and crossfit.

S.S. said that Snyder talked about “righteous suicide” and “honor deaths” and she remembered an occasion when Snyder’s mother had talked Snyder out of committing suicide. S.S. also said that Snyder was a survivalist who built a tunnel under his house and kept dried goods and survival items in it. According to S.S., Snyder had many guns ready for “when society collapsed”. She described it as “a zombie apocalypse sort of thing”, but he believed that citizens would rise up against the government and the survival of the fittest would follow. S.S. said that Snyder had handguns and rifles and lots of ammunition for those firearms as well as body armor.

She recalled that when Snyder was younger, he had been involved in a Skinhead group in the Fond du Lac, WI area. He also believed that mixing races was unnatural. When Snyder and S.S. were married, he wanted to have a polygamist marriage and he talked about it for years. He also had very chauvinistic views. According to S.S., Snyder was anti-government and believed in anarchy. He believed in the concept of the survival of the fittest and told her that he would do well in prison and would rise to the top if he ever ended up there. S.S. also said that Snyder was a brilliant man who was the smartest man she’d ever met.

L.B.

L.B. was the current girlfriend of Steven Timothy Snyder. She initially met Snyder and began dating him in April of 2014. L.B. was aware that Snyder was self-employed as a mason and did restoration masonry work on older buildings in the Detroit, MI, Cleveland, OH areas and beyond. L.B. thought that Snyder was divorced from his wife when they began dating, but later found out they were separated, but not actually divorced from each other. L.B. had been told by Snyder that he had fathered six children by three different mothers.

L.B. was aware that Snyder had been involved in a domestic assault on his wife on Christmas of 2014 and that there was an outstanding warrant for Snyder for that incident. She was also aware that Snyder had assaulted his wife’s current boyfriend in February of 2015. After the domestic incident with his wife, Snyder had been quite depressed. L.B. and Snyder had been planning on taking a hiking trip in Colorado in March of 2015, but Snyder cancelled the plans for the trip because finances were too tight. Snyder had told L.B. that he didn’t have much work scheduled. L.B. later talked with a co-worker of Snyder’s who told her that he knew that Snyder was turning down masonry jobs in the months prior to his death.

L.B. said that Snyder had a concealed pistol permit and usually kept a handgun with him or in his truck. She was also aware that Snyder talked about death and suicide a lot and just prior to his death had spoken to her about making alterations to his will, his desire to have his ashes spread in Page 7

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Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation Case Report Case/Report Number: 15-1570/105

Lake Superior and which items he wanted her to have after he died. L.B. said that Snyder didn’t have very many friends that she was aware of. She knew that Snyder had a lot of guns (handguns and long guns) and ammunition. L.B. said that Snyder had talked with her about going out in a “blaze of glory”. He’d talked openly to her about his previously-held white supremacy beliefs when he was younger, but told her that he’d moved past those thoughts and he was in the process of getting his white supremacist-related tattoos removed.

According to L.B., Snyder was training in mixed martial arts (MMA) and had mentioned fighting in an MMA circuit in the fall of 2015. She said that Snyder had no addictions to alcohol or drugs that she was aware of. L.B. said that she had been living at Snyder’s house for the 3 weeks prior to his death and they had previously talked about moving in with each other.

L.B. also found it odd that Snyder had told her that he was working in the Detroit, MI area the week prior to his death; but he didn’t come to visit her at his house even though it was only about two hours away. She was also talking to him, by telephone, on the Saturday prior to his death and he said something about not being able to purchase alcohol after 10:00 pm. L.B. later found out that some stores in Wisconsin didn’t allow purchases of alcohol after 10:00 pm, but Detroit, MI area stores didn’t have that same law. She later assumed that Snyder must have actually been in Wisconsin even though he was telling her that he was in Detroit, MI.

L.B. said that Snyder’s manner was often very condescending and he always had to be right and considered himself more intelligent than others.

On the day that Snyder died (03/24/2015), he had been planning on coming home to be with her at his house. He texted L.B., “Maybe another time. Take care. I’m done” He also texted her about having a “near death experience” that he wanted to talk with her about.

T.K.

T.K. said that he was probably thought of by Steven Snyder as his (Snyder’s) closest friend. T.K. said that he thought of Snyder as his “friend from the woods”. T.K. stated that Snyder was an extremist with very chauvinistic beliefs about women such as his beliefs that women should stay home and cook while men went out and made money for the family. T.K. also viewed Snyder as a “lone wolf” type of extremist who didn’t like the government. He recalled having conversations with Snyder in which Snyder said that he liked the police, but would probably end up dying in a gunfight during a “shootout with the cops”. He recalled Snyder saying that if he ever thought he had to ask the government for its assistance, he’d slit his throat first.

T.K. also said that Snyder was in great physical shape and would often work out to build up his body and he was training to be a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. Snyder had told T.K. that he either had to “go pro or quit” because if he didn’t go all out, he would get hurt. According to T.K., Snyder was also a very healthy eater.

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Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation Case Report Case/Report Number: 15-1570/105

According to T.K., Snyder was very interested in firearms and he had a lot of them – both long guns and handguns. Snyder told T.K. that he wanted to be in the military, but they wouldn’t let him in because of his racist tattoos. Snyder told T.K. that he was planning for a “zombie apocalypse”, but by that he meant that if the government goes down and all the poor people start marching and going around breaking into houses, he would be ready for that.

T.K. also said that Snyder didn’t believe that the Holocaust had taken place and he (Snyder) researched the Nazis. T.K. said that one of his goals had been to get Snyder to go with him to Auschwitz and to try to prove to Snyder that the Holocaust had happened.

T.K. recalled a conversation in which Snyder had mentioned to him that there were other ways to make money in the world besides by working. When T.K. asked Snyder what he was talking about, Snyder said he couldn’t tell T.K. what he was talking about or he would be “in”.

Injuries to Steven Timothy Snyder

The autopsy identified one gunshot wound to the chest of Steven Timothy Snyder. Snyder also had a contusion on his right shin and a small abrasion on his upper right shin.

The Toxicology Report for Steven Timothy Snyder, issued by the St. Louis University Toxicology Laboratory indicated negative findings for alcohol or drugs.

Injuries to Trooper Trevor John Casper

The autopsy identified three gunshot wounds to Trooper Trevor J. Casper. A gunshot wound entered Trooper Casper’s back and exited his chest. A gunshot wound to Trooper Casper’s neck and a gunshot wound to Trooper Casper’s left hand. Trooper Casper also had abrasions to both of his knees and an abrasion to his left ear.

The Toxicology Report for Trooper Casper, issued by the St. Louis University Toxicology Laboratory indicated negative findings for alcohol or any other drugs except for a sedative utilized during the medical treatment process and attempts to resuscitate Trooper Casper.

Statements of Police Officers:

FDLSO Deputy Wade Melichar

Deputy Melichar was working on 03/24/2015 and began his shift at approximately 3:00 pm. He was scanning the Wisconsin State Patrol (WSP) radio channel and became aware that there had been an earlier bank robbery in Marinette County, WI. He also heard that the suspect’s phone was being “pinged” and WSP squads were being positioned progressively south on Hwy 41. He heard that the latest “ping” put the suspect’s location in northern Fond du Lac County. Deputy Melichar then heard Trooper Casper radio that he’d located the suspect’s vehicle heading southbound on Page 9

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Hwy 41 from the intersection of County Hwy OO. He then heard Trooper Casper update that the suspect had taken the Johnson Street exit at Fond du Lac, WI.

Deputy Melichar heard radio transmissions related to the location of the Pick N Save grocery store and then heard, “Shots fired!” He heard Sgt. Halbach issue an order to activate the SWAT team which was done at approximately 5:57 pm. A short time later, Deputy Melichar arrived near the shooting location by 136 North Berger Parkway. He was directed by Sgt. Halbach to return to the Sheriff’s Department to retrieve the tactical patrol armored vehicle. He returned to the Sheriff’s Department and he, along with Lt. Waldschmidt and Deputy McCormick retrieved the armored vehicle and responded back to the scene of the shooting incident.

Once back at the scene, Deputy Melichar and other tactical officers utilized the armored vehicle to approach the suspect. The suspect appeared to be deceased as his mouth was open, eyes were open and he appeared to have a chest wound. The armored vehicle backed up to retrieve a ballistic shield then advanced to the suspect a second time. The shield was then utilized by the tactical officers as they approached the suspect on foot. Deputy Melichar removed a handgun from the suspect’s right hand which was covered with a glove and had been resting (with the handgun) on the suspect’s chest. Deputy Melichar placed the handgun away from the suspect to the west of his head. Another handgun was also near the suspect. Deputy Melichar observed Detective Ledger check the suspect for signs of life. EMS personnel were requested to come to the area of the suspect where they confirmed no signs of life existed in the suspect.

FDLSO Deputy Sgt. Eric Halbach

Sgt. Halbach was working on 03/24/2015 and recalled receiving a phone call from Deputy Weisbecker, at approximately 5:33 pm, advising him that the Wisconsin State Patrol (WSP) was looking for a bank robbery suspect on Hwy 41and he was requesting permission to assist. Sgt. Halbach was on Hwy 41 near the Johnson Street exit when he heard a WSP officer radio that he was following the suspect’s vehicle southbound on Hwy 41 near County Hwy OO. As Sgt. Halbach was attempting to get into a position to assist the WSP, he heard radio traffic that the suspect’s vehicle and WSP squads were near the Pick N Save store located at 760 W. Johnson Street in Fond du Lac, WI. As Sgt. Halbach entered the Pick N Save parking lot, he heard a radio transmission of “Hot stop! Hot stop! Shots fired!”

Sgt. Halbach then directed 2 deputies to report to the Sheriff’s Department to retrieve the Tactical Patrol Vehicle (TPV) and respond to the scene of the shooting. Sgt. Halbach then parked on the north side of the Pick N Save store building and maintained a position of cover at the northeast corner of the building with Fond du Lac Police Officer Provot. He could see “a lot of commotion” next to the WSP squads parked in the middle of North Berger Parkway south of his position. Sgt. Halbach and Officer Provot moved toward the WSP squads and Sgt. Halbach saw Trooper Clarissa Justmann administering first aid to an injured Trooper lying on the ground behind her squad. Sgt. Halbach maintained a position of cover near the trunk area of the WSP squad that was straddling the curb and sidewalk area on the west side of North Berger Parkway. Page 10

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Sgt. Halbach observed the Fond du Lac Police Department’s Bearcat Tactical Vehicle arrive and park to the south of the WSP squads in front of the apartment complex located at 136 North Berger Parkway. A short time later, Sgt. Halbach moved to the area behind the Bearcat for cover and observed a white male subject (later determined to be the suspect – Steven Snyder) lying on the ground with his feet to the east and his head to the west northwest of the Bearcat. Sgt. Halbach observed that the suspect had his left arm out from his body and his right arm bent with his right hand resting on his chest. Sgt. Halbach never observed any signs of life or movement from the suspect. Sgt. Halbach and other officers took turns covering the suspect.

A short time later, the Fond du Lac County Tactical Patrol Vehicle (TPV) arrived at the scene and drove up to the suspect. The TPV then backed up and retrieved a tactical shield from the Bearcat. It then re-approached the suspect with tactical officers who approached the suspect on foot. The tactical officers disarmed the suspect who was holding a firearm in his right hand and checked the suspect for any vital signs. EMS personnel were then escorted to the suspect to check for vital signs. It was determined that the suspect was no longer a threat and the scene was secured with police tape and a perimeter was set up.

FDLSO Deputy Justin Weisbecker

Deputy Weisbecker stated that he was working on 03/24/2015 and had received an Attempt To Locate (ATL) message related to a subject wanted for an armed robbery and homicide from the northern Wisconsin area. Deputy Weisbecker listened to radio traffic on his police radio of Wisconsin State Patrol (WSP) Troopers looking for the suspect’s vehicle on Hwy 41 in the Oshkosh / Fond du Lac areas. Deputy Weisbecker asked for and received permission from his supervisor to move towards the Hwy 45 area to attempt to locate the ATL suspect/vehicle. While he was heading towards Hwy 45, Deputy Weisbecker heard radio transmissions that WSP Troopers had located the ATL vehicle and WSP squads were following it southbound on Hwy 41 near County Hwy OO. Deputy Weisbecker responded towards that area.

Dispatch notified updated locations of the suspect vehicle as it went eastbound on Johnson Street into the City of Fond du Lac, WI and then into the Pick N Save store parking lot located at 760 W. Johnson Street. Deputy Weisbecker recalled hearing radio transmissions that WSP squads were not involved in a chase with the suspect vehicle but were maintaining visual contact with the vehicle and waiting for more squads before attempting to make a traffic stop.

As Deputy Weisbecker arrived on North Berger Parkway near the Pick N Save store, he noticed approximately 3 Troopers outside of their squad cars and he could tell that things were “going down” by the Troopers movements, guns drawn and squads positioned in the middle of the street. Deputy Weisbecker blocked off North Berger Parkway near the entry/exit to the Pick N Save parking lot with his squad car and got out of his squad. He heard a Trooper yelling, “Police! Show me your hands!” and saw Trooper Clarissa Justmann and another Trooper tending to a third Trooper who was lying on the ground. He recalled seeing Trooper Justmann open her squad’s trunk to retrieve a first aid kit from it.

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Deputy Weisbecker also observed the suspect’s vehicle as it travelled on North Berger Parkway, with its driver’s door opened, and came to a rest on the curb in front of his squad. He noted that the vehicle was unoccupied.

Deputy Weisbecker observed Troopers pick up the Trooper who had been lying on the ground and placed him into the back of a WSP SUV squad which then left the scene. Deputy Weisbecker left his position of cover and followed Fond du Lac Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Halbach and Fond du Lac Police Officer Provot as they moved south to the area near the WSP squads. Deputy Weisbecker observed the Fond du Lac Police Bearcat tactical vehicle arrive and park to the east of the apartment building located at 136 North Berger Parkway. As he moved to a position of cover behind the Bearcat, he observed a white male (later identified as the suspect, Steven Snyder) lying on his back in the area northeast of the apartment complex. Deputy Weisbecker saw that the suspect’s head was towards the west and his feet were towards the east and he appeared to be holding a handgun in his right hand which was resting on his chest. Deputy Weisbecker noted that the suspect never moved or showed any signs of life.

Deputy Weisbecker heard the Bearcat tactical vehicle PA system being used to give the suspect orders to raise his hands, drop the weapon and others. Deputy Weisbecker and Officers Provot and Smith entered the apartment complex in an attempt to gain access to a second story apartment in order to have a better view of the suspect, but they were unsuccessful in that endeavor. They then left the apartment complex and took a position of cover to watch the suspect. He observed tactical team members approach the suspect using a tactical shield. Those officers disarmed the suspect and checked him for signs of life. EMS personnel were also escorted to the suspect to provide medical care.

FDLSO Deputy David Olig

Deputy Olig advised that he was working an afternoon shift on 03/24/2015 and had received an MDC (mobile data computer) message earlier in his shift about a vehicle and suspect wanted for an armed robbery which had occurred earlier in the day. He heard his dispatcher radio that a Wisconsin State Patrol (WSP) Trooper was behind the suspect’s vehicle southbound on Hwy 41 at County Hwy OO. He recalled hearing radio transmissions about the Fond du Lac Pick N Save store and that shots had been fired.

Deputy Olig responded to the area of the Pick N Save store parking lot and North Berger Parkway. He saw a silver colored vehicle with the driver’s side door open and was directed by Sgt. Halbach to secure that vehicle (later determined to be the suspect’s vehicle). Deputy Olig observed a silver cell phone on the front driver’s seat of the vehicle. He stood by to secure the vehicle until he was directed to go to the area southwest of the Pick N Save store to keep the public from entering the crime scene. While at that location, he heard an officer giving commands to the suspect with a loudspeaker.

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Deputy Olig advised that he didn’t observe the shooting and didn’t have any contact with the suspect or Trooper Casper.

FDLSO Deputy Josh McCormick

Deputy McCormick was working on 03/24/2015 and recalled receiving an Attempt To Locate (ATL) message regarding a vehicle with Massachusetts license plates being driven by a suspect who had been involved in a bank robbery in Northern Wisconsin. He also remembered that the suspect’s phone had been “pinged” in the Oshkosh, WI area. He heard radio traffic about Wisconsin State Patrol (WSP) squad cars following the suspect’s vehicle on Hwy 41 near Fond du Lac, WI. Deputy McCormick started to head in that direction to assist. FDL County Dispatch advised that the suspect vehicle had gone east on Johnson Street and the WSP squad was waiting for more police units before initiating contact. Shortly after that, Deputy McCormick heard someone radio that the suspect was heading into the Pick N Save store parking lot, he heard an officer yell something about “shots fired” and “officer down”.

Deputies McCormick and Melichar were directed by Sgt. Halbach to get the Sheriff’s Department Tactical Patrol Vehicle (TPV) and then respond to the scene of the shooting. Deputies McCormick and Melichar retrieved the TPV and were enroute to the scene when they picked up Lt. Waldschmidt who then took over driving the TPV to the scene.

As they were getting close to the scene of the shooting, Deputy McCormick recalled seeing the suspect’s unoccupied vehicle north of several WSP squad cars. He also noticed that one of the WSP squads had a broken or shot out driver’s side window. The TPV pulled in and faced west toward an apartment complex at 136 North Berger Parkway and Deputy McCormick observed the suspect lying on the grass in front of the TPV. The Fond du Lac Police Department’s Bearcat armored vehicle was also at the scene and Deputy McCormick heard commands being given to the suspect over the PA system of the City’s Bearcat. Deputy McCormick observed that the suspect was lying face up on his back with his head to the west and his feet to the east. The suspect never moved while the commands were being given to him. Deputy McCormick saw a shiny object near the suspect’s head and something in his right hand which he believed could be firearms.

Several other tactical officers got into the TPV and it pulled up to the suspect. Deputy McCormick observed that the items he’d previously believed may have been firearms were, in fact, firearms. Commands were given to the suspect through the TPV’s PA system, but the suspect never moved and no signs of life were observed. The TPV backed up in order to retrieve a tactical shield and then made a second approach to the area near the suspect. Tactical officers approached the suspect on foot utilizing the tactical shield. One of the tactical officers removed the handgun from the suspect’s right hand and placed it on the grass to the side of the suspect. Officers checked the suspect vitals for signs of life which were negative. Emergency medical personnel were escorted to the suspect and they also checked for any signs of life which were negative. Deputy McCormick noticed that the suspect had firearm ammunition magazines in each Page 13

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leg ankle area.

Deputy McCormick advised that the suspect had two handguns. One was a FN 5.7 and the other was a Glock with an extended magazine

FDLSO Lt. Ryan Waldschmidt

Lt. Waldschmidt was working on 03/24/2015 at approximately 5:50 pm, when he received information that there had been an officer-involved shooting near the Pick N Save grocery store in Fond du Lac, WI. Lt. Waldschmidt was requested to respond to the scene of the shooting incident with the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Department armored tactical response and rescue vehicle. He responded to where the armored tactical response and rescue vehicle was stored and met with fellow tactical team members. Lt. Waldschmidt drove the vehicle, with Deputies Wade Melichar and Joshua McCormick, to the area of Berger Parkway near the Pick N Save store.

Upon arrival at the scene, Lt. Waldschmidt observed the Fond du Lac Police Department’s (FDLPD) armored tactical vehicle positioned facing an apartment building located at 136 N. Berger Parkway. Lt. Waldschmidt pulled up to the passenger side of the FDLPD tactical response vehicle and he immediately observed a male subject (later identified as Steven Snyder) lying on the ground approximately 30 yards from the roadway near the corner of the apartment building. Lt. Waldschmidt noted that the downed subject was not moving, was positioned on his backside with his feet facing an easterly direction and he appeared to have a black handgun in his right hand that was lying across his upper torso.

A discussion was held with FDLPD Tactical Team Commander Scott Krause and a tactical plan was devised to use the Sheriff Department’s armored vehicle to make assessments of Snyder and the situation. Other tactical team members from law enforcement agencies entered the tactical response vehicle and Lt. Waldschmidt drove it closer to the right side of Snyder’s body. Lt. Waldschmidt announced that the subject appeared to be deceased as he was not moving, his skin was grayish and there appeared to be multiple bullet holes in the clothing covering Snyder’s upper torso.

Lt. Waldschmidt backed up the armored tactical response vehicle to obtain a NATO shield for the tactical team to use in order to approach Snyder on foot. After obtaining the shield, he drove back to the area near Snyder’s body and directed the tactical team to approach it on foot. Lt. Waldschmidt also approached the body on foot a short time later. He noted that the black handgun that he had previously observed in Snyder’s right hand had been removed and was lying on the ground above Snyder’s head. Lt. Waldschmidt also observed a black Glock handgun lying on the ground on the left side of Snyder’s upper torso. A short time later, emergency medical personnel came to where Snyder’s body was, checked on him and confirmed that he was deceased.

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FDLPD Officer Benjamin Colwin

Officer Colwin advised that he was working, as a field training officer, with Officer Burr on 03/24/2015. They received an in-car computer message about a possible homicide suspect in the area. He put the car radio on scan and heard Fond du Lac County police units investigating a vehicle near the Pick N Save grocery store that was related to the message received earlier related to the homicide suspect. Officers Colwin and Burr responded to the area with their emergency lights and siren activated. While driving to the scene, they heard “shots fired” and “officer down” on the radio.

Upon arrival at the scene, Officer Colwin heard Detective (Det.) Ledger radio that the downed officer had a head wound and a medical response was requested. Officers Colwin and Burr learned that the suspect was last seen running southbound on Berger Parkway. They proceeded to the area past the trooper’s vehicles and saw Trooper Casper being moved from the scene. Officer Colwin thought that they were taking him to the hospital. They saw Det. Ledger’s vehicle in front of the apartment buildings and Det. Ledger was pointing toward the area of the suspect. Officer Colwin observed a person lying on the ground and he and Officer Burr took cover behind a nearby tree. Officers Colwin, Burr and Det. Ledger were giving the suspect commands and they maintained cover on him, from behind the tree, for approximately 20 – 30 minutes.

After a period of time, Officer Colwin saw the Fond du Lac County’s Tactical Protective Vehicle (TPV) arrive and pull up while officers in the TPV were verbalizing at the suspect. Det. Ledger indicated that the suspect was likely deceased. Officer Colwin observed the TPV approach the suspect, then back up and regroup before approaching him again.

FDLPD Officer Matthew Burr

Officer Burr was working with his field training officer, Officer Colwin, on 03/24/2015. He heard radio traffic about an officer following a homicide suspect near the Pick N Save store in Fond du Lac, WI. Officers Burr and Colwin responded to the scene with their squad’s emergency lights and siren activated. While on their way to the scene, Officer Burr heard FDLPD Officer Provot radio “shots fired” and “officer down”.

Upon arriving at the scene of the shooting, Officer Burr saw Detective (Det.) Ledger waving to them and pointing in the direction of the suspect. Officer Burr drove to the area near where Det. Ledger was. Officers Burr and Colwin took cover behind a tree and Officer Burr observed the suspect lying face up with his feet closest to Officer Burr’s position. Officer Burr recalled giving the suspect commands while he and Officer Colwin maintained cover on the suspect until backup officers arrived. Officer Burr said that the suspect didn’t change positions from when the incident occurred to when DOJ / DCI arrived on the scene. According to Officer Burr, the Bearcat eventually arrived at the scene and the suspect was cleared.

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FDLPD Officer Shawn Provot

Officer Provot was working on 03/24/2015 and recalled receiving BOLO (Be On Look Out) information between 4:30 – 5:30 pm regarding a bank robbery / homicide in Marinette County. A “ping” of the phone revealed that the user of the phone was in the Oshkosh area. At approximately 5:30 pm, Officer Provot heard the Fond du Lac Sheriff’s Department sending squads to back up the Wisconsin State Patrol (WSP) with a traffic stop on a bank robbery / homicide suspect. The initial location given for the suspect was southbound on Hwy 41 at County Hwy OO.

A short time later, Officer Provot observed several WSP squad cars with their emergency lights activated in the area of the Pick N Save grocery store in Fond du Lac. WI. Officer Provot believed that the WSP squads were actively seeking the robbery / homicide suspect so he started to follow the squads in the Pick N Save parking lot. Near the northeast corner of the store, Officer Provot observed a “gunfight” between an unseen subject and a State Trooper. Officer Provot saw the Trooper shooting from a standing position near the trunk of a WSP patrol car.

Officer Provot immediately radioed “shots fired” and he saw the Trooper fall backwards. Officer Provot radioed “officer down”, obtained his patrol rifle, got out of his squad and took cover behind the northeast corner of the Pick N Save building. He radioed information for a perimeter and called for an ambulance to stage in the nearby vacant Home Depot parking lot.

Officer Provot observed two law enforcement officers loading the fallen Trooper into a black police SUV and drive southbound on North Berger Parkway. Officer Provot, along with FDLPD Officer Trenton Smith and Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Halbach, sprinted closer to the scene where the shooting took place and took cover behind a WSP squad car. Officer Provot observed a male subject in the grass area near an apartment complex approximately 30 yards away. He noted that the subject didn’t show any signs of life. Officer Provot covered the subject until an armored police vehicle arrived.

Officer Provot and another officer than escorted the witness (S.W.) to a waiting ambulance.

FDLPD Detective William Ledger

Detective Ledger advised that he was working on 03/24/2015 and had been assigned to investigate a bank robbery at the Hometown Bank in Fond du Lac, WI at approximately 4:25 pm. As he was canvassing the area for that case at approximately 5:20 pm, he heard gunshots near the Pick N Save store and heard Officer Provot radio, “Shots fired!”

Det. Ledger responded to the area where the shooting had taken place and approached a Wisconsin State Patrol (WSP) squad car. He observed a male Trooper down and noticed that the Trooper’s breathing was labored. He also saw a female Trooper (later identified as Clarissa Justmann) covering towards the direction where the suspect had last been seen and checking on Page 16

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the injured Trooper. Det. Ledger tried to comfort the fallen Trooper and also asked Trooper Justmann where the suspect had gone. She stated that she didn’t know for sure, but she last saw him at the tree line. Det. Ledger than covered that area with his rifle.

According to Det. Ledger, an African American Trooper (later identified as WSP Captain Anthony Burrell) arrived on the scene at this time. Det. Ledger recalled someone grabbed a medical bag and was putting pressure on Trooper Casper’s wound. Later, an unknown Trooper along with Detective Bobo, loaded the wounded Trooper into a squad car and drove from the scene.

Det. Ledger drove his squad towards the nearby apartment complex, looked to his right and saw a male lying on the ground. He recalled that the male was wearing a glove. He and other officers covered the suspect and the armored vehicle arrived at the scene a short time later. Det. Ledger utilized the ballistic shield and, along with other tactical officers, approached the suspect. Det. Ledger could see that from the suspect’s appearance and lack of a pulse, he appeared to be dead. Det. Ledger observed a Glock handgun on the ground near the suspect and a second black handgun in the suspect’s right hand.

FDLPD Detective Bobo

Detective Bobo was working on 03/24/2015 and (at approximately 4:25 pm) had responded to the call of a bank robbery at the Hometown Bank located at 245 Peters Road in Fond du Lac, WI. While involved in that investigation, Det. Bobo heard a voice on the police radio say something to the effect of, “Hot stop! Shots fired! Officer down!” near the Pick N Save grocery store which was near his location.

Det. Bobo immediately drove to the area of the Pick N Save store and observed several Wisconsin State Patrol (WSP) squad cars with their emergency lights activated. He drove to the area where the squad cars were stopped, got out of his squad car and took up a position near the rear of a WSP squad car with his patrol rifle. From his position, Det. Bobo clearly saw a WSP Trooper laying on his back near a WSP squad car. Other Troopers were leaning over the fallen Trooper evaluating him and offering words of encouragement. Det. Bobo observed a female Trooper pointing a shotgun in the direction of the nearby apartment building and he heard her say, “Trevor shot him four times in the back and he ran that way” as she pointed to the southwest.

Det. Bobo observed a female civilian laying on the ground near a parked vehicle approximately 50-75 feet away and yelled, “Who’s this? Is she involved?” Another officer replied that she was a witness. Det. Bobo also observed a WSP Captain applying direct pressure to the back of the fallen Trooper’s head. He also observed signs of life from the fallen Trooper. Det. Bobo told the WSP Troopers, “We need to get him out of here fast”. A Trooper said, “We can use mine” and ran to his nearby WSP vehicle. Det. Bobo and the WSP Captain lifted the fallen Trooper into the WSP vehicle. Det. Bobo told the WSP Captain to get the Trooper to the Flight for Life hangar Page 17

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and the WSP vehicle sped away.

Det. Bobo returned to an area of cover behind a WSP squad car until he heard an officer yell that there was a subject down. Det. Bobo, along with Officers Colwin and Burr, took positions behind a large tree on the terrace of Berger Parkway outside the apartment building. Det. Bobo could then clearly see a male subject lying on his back with his left arm by his shoulder and his right arm resting on his chest. The body didn’t show any signs of life.

A short time later, an armored police vehicle arrived at the scene. Det. Bobo used it for cover and then got into the vehicle with other officers. The armored vehicle moved closer to the subject’s body and Det. Bobo saw that the subject showed no signs of life but was in possession of 2 handguns. Det. Bobo and other officers exited the armored vehicle with a ballistic shield and approached the subject’s body on foot. Det. Bobo could see that the subject was completely lifeless, his eyes were open and his right hand was clutching a pistol. Another pistol was laying near the subject’s left shoulder area. An officer removed the pistol from the subject’s hand and lay it near the body. Once the subject was secured, EMS personnel were on scene.

FDLPD Captain Robb Duveneck

Captain Duvenek said that he was working as the shift supervisor on 03/24/2015 and started his shift at approximately 2:00 pm. Capt. Duvenek was dispatched to the scene of a bank robbery near the Pick N Save Store at approximately 5:25 pm. Capt. Duvenek heard a radio transmission of “Shots fired!” and he continued to the area near the southeast corner of the Pick N Save store building. He observed Trooper Justmann armed with a shotgun and positioned behind a Wisconsin State Patrol (WSP) squad. He also observed Detective Ledger and Officers Colwin and Burr positioned behind a large tree near the northeast corner of the apartment complex located at 136 North Berger Parkway.

From his position, Capt. Duvenek observed the suspect (later identified as Steven Snyder) lying face up in the yard in front of the apartment complex. Capt. Duvenek heard officers giving multiple verbal commands to the suspect, but there was no response. Capt. Duvenek could see that the suspect’s hand was on his chest clenched in a fist and appeared to be wearing a glove. Capt. Duvenek retrieved the ballistic shield from his squad car for its possible use to approach the suspect.

Capt. Duvenek observed the Fond du Lac Police Department armored vehicle arrive at the scene. An officer, utilizing binoculars, confirmed that the suspect had a firearm. The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Department armored car arrived at the scene and moved forward, with tactical officers inside, to where the suspect was lying. Capt. Duvenek observed one handgun being secured by the tactical officers and another officer was checking the suspect for vital signs. The tactical officers confirmed that the suspect was pulseless and non-breathing. EMS personnel were escorted to the scene to confirm the suspect’s condition.

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WSP Trooper Clarissa Justmann

Trooper Justmann stated that she was working in the Fond du Lac County area on the afternoon of 03/24/2015 and had received an ATL (Attempt To Locate) bulletin regarding an armed robbery / homicide which had occurred in Marinette County earlier in the day. A description of the suspect’s vehicle and license plate information was also included in the ATL bulletin. Trooper Justmann also received information related to the “pinging” of the suspect’s phone and WSP personnel were advised that it had been in the Oshkosh, WI area. Trooper Justmann was aware that Trooper Trevor Casper was north of Fond du Lac in a highway crossover on Hwy 41 near County Hwy OO looking for the ATL vehicle. Trooper Justmann and Trooper Andrew Hyer were looking for the vehicle from a highway crossover south of Fond du Lac on Hwy 41at Lost Arrow.

Trooper Justmann heard Trooper Casper radio that he had located the ATL vehicle and was following it southbound on Hwy 41. Troopers Justmann and Hyer immediately headed north on Hwy 41 toward Trooper Casper and the ATL vehicle. Trooper Casper advised that he was following the ATL vehicle (later determined to have been driven by Steven Timothy Snyder) eastbound on Hwy 23. WSP Dispatcher Thone advised Trooper Casper to stay back, wait for back up and not engage the ATL suspect. Trooper Justmann heard Trooper Casper advise that he was following the suspect vehicle into the Rocky Rococo parking lot. Troopers Justmann and Hyer were a short distance behind, but not yet in sight of, Trooper Casper. The last radio transmission Trooper Casper had given was that he was near the Pick N Save store.

As Trooper Justmann was going through the Pick N Save grocery store parking lot and almost to North Berger Parkway, she saw Trooper Casper south of her location. She radioed that she’d located Trooper Casper and observed someone running across the road towards Trooper Casper’s squad car which was moving southbound on North Berger Parkway. She saw Trooper Casper outside of his squad car trying to stand up and he and the suspect were shooting at each other.

Trooper Justmann drove to the area just east of Trooper Casper’s squad car, parked her squad and ran to the back of her squad. As she was slowing to stop, she noticed broken glass on the roadway and then saw that the driver’s side front window had been shot out on Trooper Casper’s squad. She got a shotgun out of her squad car and moved to the area behind Trooper Casper’s squad as Trooper Casper was shooting at the suspect who was shooting back at him. She could see the suspect’s hand jerking while he was shooting at Trooper Casper. She thought that she saw the back of the suspect’s shirt being hit by rounds that Trooper Casper was shooting at him. Trooper Casper then fell down on the roadway behind his squad car. Trooper Justmann radioed “Shots fired!” and was checking for a pulse on Trooper Casper. She last saw the suspect running southwest behind a row of trees that were southwest of Trooper Casper’s squad car.

Trooper Hyer arrived at the scene a short time after Trooper Justmann did and pulled Trooper Casper behind Trooper Justmann’s squad car. Troopers Justmann and Hyer were checking Trooper Casper for any wounds on his body and they saw a wound on the back of his head. She Page 19

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also saw a female (S.W.) standing up in the alley to the west of her position and WSP Captain Anthony Burrell (who had arrived by this time) was yelling at her to get down. Trooper Justmann got her first aid kit out of her squad and pushed gauze onto the back of Trooper Casper’s head which Capt. Burrell held there. Trooper Justmann observed a lot of blood on the back of Trooper Casper’s squad car, on his handgun and on his hands.

Capt. Burrell yelled that they had to get Trooper Casper out of there immediately. Trooper Hyer and Capt. Burrell lifted Trooper Casper into Trooper Hyer’s vehicle and Trooper Hyer and Capt. Burrell left the area going southbound on North Berger Parkway.

Trooper Justmann remained at the scene with her shotgun as other police officers were arriving. She provided them with information related to her observations of the suspect and his last known direction of travel and whereabouts. She recalled seeing an ammunition magazine lying on the ground near Trooper Casper’s squad. Trooper Justmann said that she never approached the suspect, but she was aware that other officers had located him and were handling him. She eventually left the scene with Trooper Hyer and went to the airport where Trooper Casper was being stabilized in order to be flown to a nearby trauma center. Trooper Casper died from his wounds prior to being flown from the airport, so Troopers Justmann and Hyer, as well as Capt. Burrell and others ended up going to St. Agnes Hospital with Trooper Casper.

WSP Trooper Andrew Hyer

Trooper Hyer advised that he had been working on 03/24/2015 and was working in the Sheboygan County area. When he started his shift (at 3:00 pm), he saw messages related to an ATL (Attempt To Locate) for an armed bank robbery / homicide that had occurred earlier in the day in Marinette County. He later received a message about the suspect’s cell phone location being “pinged” in the Clintonville, WI area and then a short time later another “ping” of the suspect in the Oshkosh, WI area. He then responded to the Fond du Lac area to assist with attempting to locate the suspect.

Trooper Hyer parked in a highway crossover on Hwy 41 south of Fond du Lac, WI where Trooper Clarissa Justmann was also parked and they were looking for the suspect’s vehicle. He heard Trooper Casper radio that he had located the suspect’s vehicle. Trooper Hyer heard WSP Dispatcher Thone radio to Trooper Casper to “hang back” and not try to stop the suspect vehicle until Troopers Justmann and Hyer were there to set up a high risk stop together. Trooper Hyer heard Trooper Casper giving updates on the location where the suspect’s vehicle was as he was following it from a distance. The vehicle continued southbound on Hwy 41 and then turned east on Hwy 23 into the City of Fond du Lac, WI. Trooper Hyer advised WSP Dispatch to contact Fond du Lac Police and Sheriff Departments as to what was happening and the locations of the suspect.

Trooper Casper radioed that he was following the suspect vehicle into the Rocky Rococo’s Page 20

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restaurant area. Trooper Hyer advised WSP Dispatch that he and Trooper Justmann were about 30 seconds behind Trooper Casper’s position. Trooper Hyer turned into the area near Rocky Rococo’s and asked, on the radio, where Trooper Casper was. Trooper Hyer heard Trooper Justmann radio that he was “over here” and Trooper Hyer had seen her drive past his position to the east. As Trooper Hyer drove past the front entrance of the Pick N Save store to where the parking lot enters North Berger Parkway, he observed Trooper Casper to the south standing by the front driver’s side corner of his squad in a “shooting stance”. Trooper Hyer went southbound on North Berger Parkway and the next time he saw Trooper Casper, after clearing the intersection, he noticed that Trooper Casper was behind his squad car facing southwest.

As Trooper Hyer parked his squad near Trooper Justmann’s, he saw Trooper Casper lying on the road behind his cruiser on his back with his hands by the sides of his head. Trooper Hyer got out with his rifle and asked Trooper Justmann (who was behind her squad car) where the suspect was. He saw a female standing by an orange-colored car and he yelled at her to get down on the ground.

Trooper Hyer dragged Trooper Casper to the area behind Trooper Justmann’s squad car and kept scanning the area for the suspect. WSP Captain Anthony Burrell (who arrived shortly after Trooper Hyer) was yelling that they had to get Trooper Casper out of there so Trooper Hyer unlocked his squad while Capt. Burrell and another officer helped to load Trooper Casper into the back seat. As Trooper Hyer drove southbound on North Berger Parkway to go to a hospital, Capt. Burrell was in the back seat with Trooper Casper. About 2 or 3 blocks later, Trooper Hyer observed an ambulance parked on the side of the road. He stopped by the ambulance and pulled Trooper Casper out of his squad and onto a gurney that medical personnel had retrieved from the ambulance. Medical personnel wheeled the gurney to the ambulance and got it and Trooper Casper into the ambulance.

After a short time, Trooper Hyer left the area (while Capt. Burrell stayed by the ambulance) and went back to the area where the shooting had occurred to assist. He located Trooper Justmann and had her get into his squad then they went back to the area where the ambulance was parked while medical personnel were working on Trooper Casper. The ambulance then transported Trooper Casper to the Fond du Lac Airport to meet the Flight for Life helicopter while Trooper Hyer followed the ambulance with Trooper Justmann and Captain Burrell with him. When they arrived at the airport, Trooper Hyer observed about 8 medical personnel in the back of the ambulance working on Trooper Casper. After about 25 minutes at the airport, Trooper Casper died.

It was determined that Trooper Casper would be taken to St. Agnes Hospital. Trooper Schofield (who had arrived at the airport) led the procession with the ambulance (transporting Trooper Casper and Capt. Burrell) following and Troopers Hyer and Justmann followed the ambulance.

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WSP Sergeant John Jones

Sgt. Jones stated that he was working as the duty supervisor on 03/24/2015 and started his shift at approximately 3:00 pm. As soon as he started working, he was advised to contact day shift WSP Sgt. Tim McGrath regarding an incident that took place in Marinette County earlier in the day. Sgt. Jones and Sgt. McGrath spoke to each other about an armed bank robbery / homicide which had occurred. Sgt. Jones then spoke telephonically with Trooper Van Noie who was at the scene of the homicide in Marinette County to get more details from her.

While Sgt. Jones was talking with Trooper Van Noie, he received a call from an FBI Agent who advised that he was enroute to the scene of the bank robbery in Marinette County. Agent Mullen also advised that he’d received information from the FBI field office in Traverse City, MI related to a vehicle that they were “pinging” with a suspect who was believed to have been involved in several armed bank robberies. The agent also provided Sgt. Jones with information related to the vehicle that the suspect was believed to have been driving (a gray 2014 or 2015 Toyota Corolla with Massachusetts license plates) and an e-mail with the suspect’s name, photograph and information (Steven T. Snyder) at approximately 3:24 pm. There was also an outstanding warrant for Snyder for aggravated assault from Gaylord, MI. Sgt. Jones forwarded the e-mail he’d received from the agent to Trooper Van Noie, WSP District 3 Dispatch and District 3 Supervisors and requested that District 3 Dispatch forward it to all working District 3 personnel.

Sgt. Jones and the agent talked back and forth many times as to where the most recent “ping” was for the suspect’s location and Sgt. Jones tried to set up WSP squads strategically to locate the suspect’s vehicle. Agent Mullen also arrived at the bank in Wausaukee (in Marinette County), looked at the video footage of the bank robbery suspect and verified that it was Steven Snyder. Just before 5:00 pm, Agent Mullen advised Sgt. Jones that the most recent “ping” had been in the Oshkosh area.

At approximately 5:26 pm, Sgt. Jones heard Trooper Casper radio that he’d located the suspect’s vehicle and was following it southbound on Hwy 41 near County Hwy OO. Sgt. Jones radioed to Trooper Casper, “He’s armed and dangerous. Stay back.” WSP Dispatcher Thone radioed basically the same information. Sgt. Jones heard WSP Captain Anthony Burrell radio that he was leaving District 3 Headquarters and Trooper Casper advised that the vehicle was exiting Hwy 41 onto Hwy 23. Troopers Justmann and Hyer advised that they were northbound on Hwy 41, near Military Rd. Sgt. Jones heard Trooper Casper advise that he was eastbound on Hwy 23 and then at Rocky Rococo’s Pizza. He then heard Trooper Justmann radio that she had Trooper Casper in sight and then, “Shots fired!”

Sgt. Jones arrived in the area of the shooting a short time later. He said that he saw a vehicle with the headlights on and the driver’s door opened (later determined to be the suspect’s vehicle) east of the northeast corner of the Pick N Save store building. He proceeded south toward where the WSP vehicles were located and a Bearcat armored vehicle was parked. He also saw Trooper Page 22

Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation Case Report Case/Report Number: 15-1570/105

Justmann behind Trooper Casper’s squad car with her shotgun out. Sgt. Jones also saw a female on the ground crying behind a vehicle west of Trooper Casper’s squad car. Sgt. Jones and another police officer helped this female get away from her car and leave the area.

Sgt. Jones turned off the female’s car and, while looking to the south for the suspect, he saw a male lying on the ground with an ashen color, not moving at all, with his eyes and mouth opened. Sgt. Jones believed that the subject was dead. Sgt. Jones then moved to the area behind Trooper Casper’s squad car. Sgt. Jones saw Trooper Hyer return to the scene of the shooting to get Trooper Justmann and they left the scene together. Sgt. Jones saw the Bearcat move up by the suspect, then back up to get a ballistic shield. It moved up again and tactical officers went up, behind the shield, to disarm the suspect and confirm that he was dead. EMTs then approached the suspect to check his medical condition.

Sgt. Jones then took photographs of the scene and items of evidence with his camera. He saw a blood-covered handgun (later determined to have been Trooper Casper’s) lying on the ground at the rear driver’s side of Trooper Casper’s squad car. He also saw an ammunition magazine containing ammunition for a FN – 5.7 lying on the ground near the rear passenger corner of Trooper Casper’s squad as well as a “bunch of brass” (expended cartridges) lying on the roadway northwest of Trooper Casper’s squad. He noted that the glass of Trooper Casper’s driver’s side door window was shattered and there was an “inbound round” going into the driver’s door of Trooper Casper’s squad car.

WSP Captain Anthony Burrell

Captain Burrell advised that he was working on 03/24/2015 and had been alerted about a bank robbery / homicide incident that had occurred in Marinette County, WI earlier in the day. He was aware that the FBI was “pinging” the cell phone of a suspect in the robbery/homicide and that different locations of the phone were updated throughout the day. He recalled that shortly after 5:00 pm, he was aware that the phone was being “pinged” in the Oshkosh / Fond du Lac area.

At one point, Capt. Burrell heard Trooper Casper radio that he had located the suspect’s vehicle and that he was currently following it southbound on Hwy 41 near the County Hwy OO exit north of Fond du Lac. Capt. Burrell left WSP District Headquarters and started heading toward Trooper Casper’s location. He heard Trooper Casper radio that the suspect’s vehicle was getting off of Hwy 41 at the Johnson Street exit. Capt. Burrell also heard Troopers Justmann and Hyer advise that they were also responding to assist Trooper Casper. Capt. Burrell recalled hearing WSP Dispatch advise Trooper Casper to stay back and wait for help and then he was hearing Trooper Casper giving updates as to his current locations and directions of travel as he followed the suspect’s vehicle from a distance.

Capt. Burrell recalled that Trooper Casper radioed that he was following the suspect’s vehicle near the Rocky Rococo’s restaurant in Fond du Lac. Capt. Burrell then followed Trooper Justmann to the area where Trooper Casper was stopped and he saw Trooper Casper standing by Page 23

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his squad and then he staggered and fell backwards. Capt. Burrell heard Trooper Justmann calling out, “Shots fired!” on the radio and then he saw her getting out of her squad and opening her trunk to get a long gun out of it. Capt. Burrell parked his squad and approached Trooper Justmann and Trooper Casper and asked if Trooper Casper was alright. Capt. Burrell also saw a vehicle with a female scrunched down by the driver’s side door in an alley just to the west of the shooting scene and he told the woman to stay down.

Capt. Burrell observed Trooper Casper lying on his back with his hands up. Capt. Burrell saw Trooper Justmann dragging Trooper Casper behind her squad car to get him behind more cover and farther from the suspect. Capt. Burrell kept asking Trooper Casper if he was okay. He rolled Trooper Casper over onto his side to look for wounds and saw a gash on the back of his head. Trooper Hyer pulled his WSP SUV squad closer and Capt. Burrell and Trooper Justmann picked up Trooper Casper and loaded him into the back seat of Trooper Hyer’s squad. Trooper Hyer drove, with Trooper Casper and Capt. Burrell, south of the area where the shooting took place. Trooper Justmann remained at the scene of the shooting.

As they were going south, Capt. Burrell looked to the west and saw who he believed was the suspect lying down. About 2 blocks south of the shooting scene, Capt. Burrell saw a fire truck and paramedic unit. Emergency medical personnel brought a gurney out of the ambulance to Trooper Hyer’s squad and Trooper Casper was loaded onto it and then placed inside the ambulance where EMS personnel worked on Trooper Casper.

About 10 minutes later, the ambulance started driving to the Fond du Lac Airport to meet with a medical helicopter there. Trooper Hyer drove his squad behind the ambulance to the airport. While at the ambulance, there were 4-5 paramedics working on Trooper Casper in the ambulance. Eventually one of the EMS workers told Capt. Burrell that Trooper Casper had died in spite of all their efforts to save him. Capt. Burrell then got into the back of the ambulance with Trooper Casper and rode with him to St. Agnes Hospital.

Review of Squad Car Video Footage

Video footage from officer’s squad cars was received and subsequently reviewed. The officer’s who had video from their squad cars that was reviewed included Wisconsin State Patrol Troopers Trevor Casper, Clarissa Justmann and Andrew Hyer, Fond du Lac Police Department Officers Shawn Provot and Matthew Burr and Fond du Lac Sheriff’s Department Deputies Justin Weisbecker and David Olig. The video footage showed different perspectives and time frames of the shooting incident and time frames afterwards.

Search Warrants Executed

Search warrants for Snyder’s vehicle, cellular telephones, and computer and e-mail accounts were executed. Searches were also conducted on WSP vehicles, firearms and Snyder’s residence in Michigan.

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Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation Case Report Case/Report Number: 15-1570/105

Scene Examination

The crime scene included approximately a two-block area of North Berger Parkway running east of a Pick N Save store (760 W. Johnson Street), the Courtyard Apartment building (136 North Berger Parkway), the property east of the apartment building and two vehicles. The vehicles included a blue Wisconsin State Patrol (WSP) vehicle reported to have been driven by Trooper Trevor J. Casper; and a grey 2014 Toyota Corolla reported to have been driven by Steven T. Snyder.

Upon the Crime Scene Response Team’s (CSRT) arrival at the scene, the vehicles were located adjacent to the parkway’s road surface. The WSP vehicle, appearing to have been travelling to the south prior to stopping, was located on the west terrace of North Berger Parkway southeast of the Pick N Save building. The Toyota Corolla was located on an entrance/exit drive northeast of the Pick N Save building appearing to have been travelling to the north prior to coming to a stop.

WSP Trooper Casper was not at the scene upon the CSRT’s arrival. He had been transported to a local hospital.

The body of Steven Snyder was located on the front lawn northeast of the Courtyard Apartments building. He was fully clothed lying on his back with apparent bloodstains on his left chest and left back region. A Glock 40 handgun and a FNH (5.7 X 28 caliber) handgun were located near his body. Loaded handgun ammunition magazines were also present on his body with one secured to each ankle.

The scene was photographed, video recorded and examined. The scene was also searched for potential evidence, sketched and measured. Members of the Wisconsin State Patrol Technical Reconstruction Unit (accompanied by DCI personnel) took measurements for the presentation of scaled diagrams.

A total of nine (9) fired 5.7 X 28 mm and twelve (12) fired 40 caliber cartridge casings were recovered from the surface of North Berger Parkway. The remaining 5.7 X 28 mm fired cartridge case was recovered from the north end of the front lawn of the apartment building. The twelve (12) fired 40 caliber cartridge cases were recovered from the south entrance/exit of the Pick N Save off North Berger Parkway. A total of twenty-one (21) unfired 5.7 X 28 mm cartridges and one disassembled ammunition magazine were recovered from the north end of the front lawn of the apartment building. Six (6) fired projectiles, consistent with fired bullets, were recovered from the front lawn of the apartment building. Two (2) additional fired projectiles, consistent with fired bullets, were recovered from the walls of the building.

Trooper Casper’s handgun (with ammunition magazine) containing four (4) unfired cartridges was collected from the scene. This handgun was recovered from the street north of the WSP vehicle.

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Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation Case Report Case/Report Number: 15-1570/105

Two (2) other handguns were recovered off the ground northwest of the body of Steven Snyder – one (1) Glock 23 Gen4 (40 caliber) handgun (with ammunition magazine) containing twenty-two (22) 40 caliber cartridges and one (1) FNH (5.7 X 28 caliber) handgun (with ammunition magazine body).

A trail of apparent bloodstains was present on the terraced area located between North Berger Parkway and the sidewalk east of the Pick N Save building. The trail of bloodstains appeared to have travelled from the terrace (north of the south entrance/exit of the Pick N Save building) onto the south entrance/exit of the Pick N Save building. There were also numerous apparent bloodstains on the exterior surface of the WSP vehicle. Numerous stains, appearing to be bloodstains were collected.

The WSP vehicle and the Toyota Corolla were removed from the scene and transported to a secure facility located at the Fond du Lac Police Department.

On Wednesday, 03/25/2015, the examination and search for additional evidence continued on the vehicles and in the apartment building located at 136 North Berger Parkway. Additional evidence was recovered from both of the vehicles and the apartment building.

A total of sixty-one (61) items of evidence, as described on the Receipts of Physical Evidence form, were collected by the CSRT. One (1) shotgun and one (1) handgun were collected by DCI Special agent Winscher. All items of evidence were transported to the Milwaukee State Crime Laboratory.

District Attorney Review

The Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation submitted all reports to the Fond du Lac County District Attorney’s Office for review.

WISCONSIN DOJ

Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation Case Report on shooting of Trooper Casper

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