MENASHA, WI (WTAQ) – Calling it the “end of innocence”, City of Menasha police and other officials are talking more about the random shooting Sunday evening that killed four people and critically injured a fifth person.
The shooting took place on the Trestle Trail Bridge in Menasha around 7:30 p.m.
Menasha Police Chief Tim Styka identified the people involved in the tragedy during a press conference Monday.
The slain victims are 33-year-old Johnathon Stoffel of Neenah, his 11-year-old daughter Olivia Stoffel and 31-year-old Adam Bentdahl of Appleton. 32-year-old Erin Stoffel, the wife of Jonathon and mother of Olivia, remains in critical condition at Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah.
Styka says the lone gunman, disputing some earlier reports, has been identified as 27-year-old Sergio Daniel Valencia del Toro. Police say del Toro turned the gun on himself and died at the hospital.
Medical Director of Trauma at Theda Clark Medical Center Dr. Ray Georgen says the emergency surgery on Erin Stoffel went well, and they are very hopeful for recovery.
Authorities indicate that Erin Stoffel was a hero in this tragedy, sending her son to run for help after being shot multiple times. She also helped other children safely get off the bridge.
Authorities estimate between 75 and 100 people were in the park area at the time of the shootings. The incident took place about two-thirds of the way across the bridge near a pavilion.
Winnebago County Coroner Barry Busby commended the heroism of multiple law enforcement agencies that quickly responded. He also commended 7-year-old Ezra Stoffel and his 5-year-old sister for running off the bridge to get help.
Olivia Stoffel was a student at Fox Valley Christian Academy in Neenah, which was closed on Monday.
A COMMUNITY MOURNS
Family and friends of the victims of Sunday’s Menasha multiple shooting are coming forward to talk about their loved ones.
Justin Leeman, a cousin of the Stoffels, calls them wonderful people.
“Very religious, very active in the church, fun loving,” Leeman told WTAQ. “Shock all the way around, just because of the people they are.”
Dozens of family, friends and community members gathered Monday afternoon at the family’s church. A vigil honored the Stoffel family at Calvary Bible Church in Neenah.
Tommy Bongers says he is Jon Stoffel’s second cousin.
“Jon was the guy that would give the shirt off his back to anybody. If somebody was doing something, he would be the first guy there,” said Bongers.
Jon and his wife Erin enrolled their three children in the Fox Valley Christian Academy located next to the church.
“All of their children were a joy. Smiles, bubbly, very active. Just tremendous children, all three of them. When you look at them, they just make you smile,” said Ron Halma, Fox Valley Christian Academy Principal.
An online fundraiser has been established for the Stoffel family.
SHOOTER HAD NO PRIOR RECORD
During the press conference, Menasha Police Chief Tim Styka says del Toro was apparently distraught about the relationship with his fiancée. Styka says he and his fiancée ended their engagement a week ago, was distraught and armed himself with two guns and ammo.
“It was a relationship issue that he had, he and his fiancé had called off their wedding about a week ago,” Styka said, “and discussed other issues with their relationship, and he was distraught over that.”
Police confirmed del Toro had no prior criminal record and could legally possess firearms.
“We had no contacts with him,” said Menasha Police Chief Tim Styka. “As far as from a mental health perspective. But that’s something we’ll definitely be looking at as we gather more information on this.”
Authorities say they believe there was no communication between del Toro and the victims, and that he walked past some people before deciding to open fire.
Police say he went to the park area, and shot all four victims randomly, unprovoked and at close range.
Del Toro recently re-enlisted in the Army after being an Air Force veteran and also attended UW-Oshkosh. According to a spokesman with the Air Force personnel center, del Toro was a senior airman stationed at Travis Air Force Base in California.
He worked as a food service journeyman from November 2008 to March 2014. A U.S. Army official told FOX 11, Del Toro joined the Michigan National Guard after leaving the Air Force and transferred to the Wisconsin National Guard.
A statement by UW-Oshkosh says del Toro was a second semester freshman.
He also was a member of the Menasha Auxiliary Police Unit, having applied last November and officially joined in January.
“When they did the background checks on him, he had glowing references from former military personnel and employers,” says Menasha Police Officer Aaron Zemlock. “They followed through with hiring him, based on our background checks and referrals based on his recommendations.”
Zemlock says that he had yet to perform any assignments with them, which include crowd control for events and directing traffic.
(Additional reporting from FOX 11).
