WAUKESHA, Wis. — Police shot a suspect armed with a knife at a Meijer grocery store in Waukesha after a hostage situation on Thursday evening.
According to the Waukesha Police Department, a man placed a 911 call from inside the store near Terry Ave. and Sunset Dr. at 5:51 p.m. on July 30. The man said he was armed with a knife and had taken a hostage.
When officers arrived, they found the suspect near a 59-year-old man towards the center of the store. The suspect refused commands to drop the knife.
“Based on the suspect’s actions and the immediate threat he posed to the victim and responding officers, one officer discharged their firearm to stop the threat of the armed suspect,” Waukesha Police Chief Dan Thompson said.
Officers then began providing emergency medical care and applied a tourniquet. The man was then taken to the hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
The 59-year-old man was treated at the scene for non-life-threatening injuries and then taken to the hospital. It’s unclear how he was hurt.
Police recovered a knife from the scene. Chief Thompson added that the suspect has a prior history of contact with the Waukesha Police Department but did not specify what kind of contact.
A 26-year-old male officer with five years on the force was the only officer who fired his weapon. He was placed on administrative leave.
The Greenfield Police Department is leading the investigation.
