One person was killed when police stormed a building in a small Wisconsin town Saturday to rescue hostages being held by a gunman, according to authorities.
The male victim was shot at by police when he came out of the building in downtown Neenah with a gun in his hand and did not respond to officers’ commands to drop it, Fox11 News reported. He later died.
Police said the victim also may have been shot at from inside the building, which housed Eagle Nation Cycles, the station reported.
Police said the incident began in the morning when a man with a gun entered the repair shop, fired at least one shot and took several people hostage.
Police Chief Kevin Wilkinson said officers entered the building when they learned the hostages were in immediate danger of being killed, Fox11 reported.
“Officers then attempted entry into the building to save the hostages and were met by gunfire,” he said.
One officer was shot in the head but saved by his helmet, Wilkinson said. The officer was not hurt.
A short time later the man who was killed ran out of the building.
A standoff ensued which ended several hours later when the gunman surrendered to police and the hostages were released unharmed. Wilkinson did not say how many persons were held hostage.
Police evacuated nearby homes and business and ordered other residents to “shelter in place.”
The incident may have been sparked by the sale of a motorcycle, Fox11 reported.
A lawyer for Eagle Nation told the station the seller had second thoughts about selling it.
“He came in demanded his bike back and took hostages and the situation escalated from there,” the lawyer Cole White said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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