Nengmy Vang, 45, ID'd as suspect in shooting spree
ROTHSCHILD - The suspect arrested in connection with the shooting deaths of four people on Wednesday is a middle-aged Weston man who was targeting his estranged wife, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin has learned.
Nengmy Vang, 45, is the man police believe committed the shootings, according to multiple people with knowledge of Vang’s involvement.
Police at a Thursday afternoon press briefing declined to name Vang or say exactly what motivated the killings, except to say it was a “domestic incident” involving a husband and wife.
The husband had targeted the wife in the shootings, but she escaped unharmed, said Jason Smith, deputy administrator of the state Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation.
Vang is seeking to divorce his 41-year-old wife of more than two decades. He called the marriage "irretrievably broken" in a court filing obtained by USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.
The couple has at least six kids.
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No one answered the door Thursday afternoon at a Weston home where court records indicate Vang’s wife and the couple’s minor children reside. A lawyer for Vang did not respond to requests for comment Thursday.
Police have not yet had a chance to interview Vang, who was shot by police and requires “intense medical care” at a Wausau hospital, Smith said.
A detective with 18 years of police experience and an attorney were among the four people Vang is suspected of killing Wednesday in a shooting spree that started at a local bank.
The state Department of Justice on Thursday identified the four victims as Everest Metro Police Detective Jason Weiland, 40; Marathon Savings Bank employees Dianne M. Look, 67, and Karen L. Barclay, 62; and attorney Sara H. Quirt Sann, 43.
Weiland was a police officer for 18 years, the last 15 of which were with the Everest Metro Police Department. He is survived by his wife and two children.
The Everest department’s website listed Weiland as a field training officer and member of a task force for internet crimes against children. His LinkedIn page said he had also worked as a narcotics detective for the Marathon County Sheriff’s Department and as a police officer and corrections officer for Marathon City and Marathon County.
The Department of Justice released information about the other victims Thursday:
- Dianne M. Look, 67, grew up in many places, but she called Wisconsin home. A graduate of D.C. Everest High School, Dianne was the mother to two children, Christy Bleu and Chuck Mientke. Dianne was an employee of Marathon Savings Bank, where she had been a branch manager since 1998. Dianne met her husband, Robert Look, while working at a local bank in 1988. The two married in 1992 and lived in South Dakota for a number of years before returning to Wisconsin in 1998. They have resided in Wisconsin since. Dianne and Robert celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary this past Valentine's Day.
- Karen L. Barclay, 62, moved to Wisconsin in 1993 and was employed at Marathon Savings Bank for more than five years. She had one daughter and two granddaughters, ages 4 and 7.
- Sara H. Quirt Sann, 43, was a lifelong resident of Wausau. She was a wife, daughter, sister, stepmom, aunt, friend, and a community servant. Sara loved golf, yoga, practicing law, and her dog, Mary.
Sheriff: Weiland shot establishing perimeter
Wednesday’s shooting spree started shortly before 12:30 p.m. at Marathon Savings Bank along East Grand Avenue in Rothschild. Vang’s wife has long worked at the bank, court records show.
Officers found two people shot there and the suspect gone. More shots were reported around 1:10 p.m. from the law firm Tlusty, Kennedy and Dirks in Schofield, where Quirt Sann rented out an office.
A third call came at 1:30 p.m. from the Aspen Street Apartments complex in Weston, where the suspect barricaded himself in an apartment. After a few hours of negotiation, the suspect exchanged gun fire with officers and was injured, according to the Department of Justice.
Weiland, the slain police officer, was shot as he was establishing a perimeter during the standoff, said Marathon County Sheriff Scott Parks.
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Vang’s most recent address was at the same apartment complex where the standoff occurred, according to court records. The couple had separated and were living apart during the divorce, records show.
Quirt Sann was representing Vang’s wife in the divorce proceedings.
Marathon Savings Bank on its Facebook page on Thursday posted a memorial to "the lives of our dear friends and colleagues who were among the victims of yesterday's shootings."
"We are deeply grieved by the tragic loss of life in our community," the post said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the victims and their families during this very difficult time."
Arielle Hines, Laura Schulte, Nora G. Hertel and Robert Mentzer contributed to this report.
Jonathan Anderson: 715-898-7010 or jonathan.anderson@gannettwisconsin.com; on Twitter @jonathanderson.