FOND DU LAC/WAUSAUKEE, WI (WTAQ) – State and federal law enforcement agencies are now leading the investigation into a crime spree on Tuesday that culminated with the deaths of three people, including a Wisconsin State Trooper.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation, video surveillance shows that Steven Timothy Snyder of Michigan committed a robbery at the State Bank of Florence at 1:43 p.m. in the Village of Wausaukee.
Marinette County Sheriff’s officials say that Snyder fired his handgun inside the bank. He took an undetermined amount of cash, then stole a bank employee’s vehicle to flee the scene.
Authorities indicate that about an hour later, they found 59-year-old Thomas C. Christ of Wausaukee dead alongside a still-running pickup truck on a road east of Wausaukee. DOJ officials say that Marinette County Sheriff Jerry Sauve reported that an encounter took place between Snyder and Christ near Christ’s property in the Town of Wausaukee.
It is believed that Snyder then took another vehicle and headed south. Sheriff’s deputies’ report finding the bank employee’s stolen vehicle in the area of Christ’s property, which was on Jermac Road.
Wisconsin State Patrol Trooper Trevor Casper, who had graduated from the State Patrol Academy in December, was working on his first shift alone Tuesday afternoon. Casper saw the suspect’s vehicle driving in Fond du Lac around 5:30 p.m. and followed it.
Fond du Lac Police Chief William Lamb says shortly afterward, the shootout took place. Both the 21-year-old Casper and Snyder were killed.
There was also a bank robbery in Fond du Lac not far from where the shootout took place. However, the DOJ has said that it has not been confirmed that Snyder was involved in that crime.
Meantime, the FBI Milwaukee Division issued a statement Wednesday saying they continue to work with the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation on our joint investigation into the bank robberies that took place.
The FBI also continues to investigate the possibility of connections to Snyder and other unsolved bank robberies in Wisconsin and other states.
