The names of the three officers involved in last week’s shooting in Superior were released on Friday.
Officer George Gothner, 20 years in law enforcement; officer Michael Kendall, 12 years; and officer Christopher Woolery, eight years; have been placed on paid administrative leave, pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, said a departmental news release on Friday.
The suspensions were per department policy.
Superior Police officers were responding to a report of a theft at a business and located the suspect about a half mile away in the Central Park neighborhood.
A confrontation occurred, and the man was shot by officers. Officers immediately began lifesaving measures on the man until Superior Fire Department and Gold Cross Ambulance paramedics arrived. The man was transported to a Duluth hospital. The man was conscious when he was transported from the scene.
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The victim-suspect’s identity will not be released by law enforcement because he has not been charged with a crime at this time, said the news release. He currently remains at a hospital recovering from injuries, and is in stable condition.
The Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation is continuing to collect evidence and determine the facts of this incident and will turn over investigative reports to the Douglas County District Attorney when the investigation concludes.
No additional details are available at this time.
