Coroner: Antigo shooter aimed at cop

ANTIGO - Autopsy results show Jakob Wagner was pointing his rifle at the Antigo police officer who killed him outside Saturday night's prom, Langlade County coroner Larry Shadick told USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin on Tuesday.

Shadick said based on the autopsy completed Sunday, Wagner's injuries demonstrate he was aiming at officer Andy Hopfensperger when Hopfensperger shot him, which Shadick said was consistent with the officer’s statement.

“A bullet hit the left arm going into his chest cavity, indicating he had that arm extended toward the officer,” he said.

He declined to say how many times Wagner was shot, citing the investigation by the state Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, which is reviewing the shooting. Court documents filed Monday state Wagner was shot "multiple times."

Also on Tuesday, police identified the two officers involved in the weekend's shooting at prom. Wagner's family released a statement saying the 18-year-old's actions Saturday night "confuse us and fill us with pain" and friends said "he wasn't a monster." At the same time, business owners continued to praise the Antigo Police Department's response to the shooting and wondered aloud how to prevent a similar situation in the future.

Related: Antigo gunman described as thoughtful, bullied, troubled

Related: Prom shooting survivors 'hand-picked by God'

Related: Community rallies around Antigo High School

More coverage: Stories, photos and videos on Antigo prom shooting

Antigo police Chief Eric Roller said in the statement identifying the officers that their quick actions saved lives.

The Antigo Police Department identified the two officers as Andrew Hopfensperger Jr., who has been with the department since January 2013, and Ryan Bula, who has been with the department since June 2012. USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin identified Hopfsenperger on Monday through court records.

"The immediate action of Officer Hopfensperger and Officer Bula directly saved the lives of the couples exiting the prom and prevented an increased tragedy that evening," Roller said in the statement. "I am very proud to have Officer Hopfensperger and Officer Bula working for the Antigo Police Department."

Both officers are on paid administrative leave, as is standard procedure in police shootings.

Police said previously that Wagner, 18, of Antigo shot at prom-goers as they left the dance late Saturday outside Antigo High School, injuring a male and female couple.

The officers and a police dog, Natscho, were patrolling the Antigo High School parking lot when the shooting began. Hopfensperger was "near" the two victims when they were shot, prompting him to shoot the gunman, police said.

He then called for paramedics for Wagner and the two victims, according to the statement.

Wagner later died at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

Langlade County Sheriff Bill Greening on Tuesday denied a USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin open records request for any 911 calls related to the shooting.

"This incident is currently under investigation and no records will be released at this time," Greening wrote. "I will forward the information you requested when the investigation is completed."

Wagner's family issued a statement midday Tuesday.

"We have lost our son, grandson and nephew — a quiet young man whom we loved," read the statement. "His actions Saturday night confuse us and fill us with pain. We realize his actions have torn open a wound in our community. We pray for healing.

"We are filled with sorrow over the injuries caused to his victims, the position in which the police officers were placed along with the prom-goers and their families. Our prayers are with each of you and your families.

"We are not comfortable addressing the media. While we grieve the loss of Jakob, we ask the media to respect our privacy in the time leading up to his funeral, and during his visitation and funeral service. We need the healing embrace of our community to get through this difficult time and appreciate your understanding."

The city of about 8,000 was shocked by violence unexpected in the close-knit community, where residents expressed sadness not only for the teens who were injured but also for the family of the accused shooter.

On a cold, overcast Tuesday morning, Al Savina emerged from the back of his Fifth Avenue shoe shop to talk with a reporter.

Savina's shop, where he repairs shoes, is lined with boxes of Red Wing boots.

"We were very fortunate we had police officers on the job," Savina, 86, of Antigo said inside his shop on Fifth Avenue.

He said the talk in the community right now is focused on the police response.

Days after the shooting, Savina is wondering how the officer who shot his gun is going to recover.

"This is going to be a hard thing, I'm sure, to adjust to," he said.

Farther down the road, a customer was inside Benishek's Creative Hairlines, a salon.

"We're a Christian community," owner Robert Benishek, 82, of Antigo said. People care about each other here.

A lesson to come out of all this is prevention, he said. How can the community take care of the needs of its people?

"When something like this happens, it's just unbelievable," he said. It's something you always read about happening somewhere else.

Still, he is proud of the police response and said the city is well prepared for what happened here.

Two Antigo police officers were patrolling the prom when the shooting happened. Immediately after the shooting, agencies from throughout the area arrived to assist, police said.

"When something like this happens, it just touches you," Benishek said.

Alison Dirr: 920-996-7266 or adirr@gannett.com; on Twitter @AlisonDirr