APPLETON — The shootout that occurred in Appleton, Wis. on May 15 leaving two men dead, including a firefighter, was the result of an overdose treatment dispute.
In a news conference, Outagamie County District Attorney Melinda Tempelis said that shooter Ruben Houston was unresponsive and breathing abnormally on a bus ride, and called 911.
Emergency crews arrived and determined that Houston was suffering from an overdose.
The crews used Narcan, a drug used to reverse an overdose of opiates. Houston then told officials he had taken four morphine pills earlier in the day.
Tempelis said while Houston was being searched, he became agitated and eventually pulled out a handgun and started shooting.
He killed firefighter Mitchell Lundgaard, shot Police Offcer Paul Christensen, and grabbed bystander Brittany Schowalter as a human shield.
Schowalter was hit in the leg and head, likely by officers, and suffered a traumatic brain injury.
Houston was shot in the addomen, arms and fingers and later died at the hospital.
Police officers that shot at Houston will not face criminal charges.
