One young man is recovering from a gunshot wound to the chest, another is being held in Washburn County Jail in connection with the shooting that apparently occurred during an altercation at a bonfire party in Trego.
For authorities, the incident began at 3 a.m. Thursday when the 18-year-old suspect called 911 from the vicinity of the Trego Travel Center in Trego Township. The suspect said he had shot Calvin D. Riley in the chest, according to the Washburn County Sheriff's Office.
The injured 20-year-old man from of Shell Lake was transported from the travel center's parking lot to the Spooner hospital's emergency room. From there, he was flown by Life Link helicopter to Essentia Health St. Mary's Medical Center were he was initially listed in critical condition.
The suspect, who is from Spooner, was arrested without incident and is in jail pending formal charges that could include negligent use of a dangerous weapon.
Investigation, including interviews with numerous witnesses, found the shooting happened at a nearby bonfire drinking party. There, a physical altercation apparently took place during which a .22-caliber firearm was fired, striking Riley in the chest, the sheriff's department said.
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Riley's condition has since been upgraded to stable. The investigation is continuing.
