OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — It’s almost been one week since an officer-involved shooting happened in Oshkosh.
With little to no information released, questions about the incident are starting to emerge.
An investigation continues, after an Oshkosh police officer shot and wounded a person on Friday, March 17.
The person was brought to the hospital for treatment.
Officers were responding to a threats complaint.
When contact was made, the person of interest drove their vehicle at police, prompting one of the officers to fire a gun.
There hasn’t been much information released about the incident, and some residents have questions.
“We think that’s important that the community hears what’s going on, especially when a resident of our community and a community member has been harmed by the police,” said Sophia Wenzel, a member of United Action Oshkosh.
Per state law, the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation is handling the investigation.
“It’s an ongoing matter so we don’t have any further updates but we will continue to inform the public about what’s happening as we’re able to consistent with the investigation,” said Attorney General Josh Kaul.
“That’s truly an investigation that’s being handled by the Department of Criminal Justice, and they have the investigation,” said Chief Dean Smith with Oshkosh police.
But Wenzel and her organization are still looking for some answers.
“We never go into anything saying the police are immediately bad, we want to just know what’s going on,” said Wenzel. “We have a whole bunch of different goals, but our biggest one is that we believe community control of the police is fundamental to a democratic society.”
Wenzel says United Action Oshkosh was created in 2017, after an Oshkosh officer fatally shot a man.
“They shot Isaiah Tucker who was also shot through his car window and that is what we have reportedly been told happened to this person, so we really want to know what’s going on,” said Wenzel.
In 2017, then Winnebago County District Attorney Christian Gossett determined the Oshkosh officer was justified in shooting Tucker in self defense.
The group sent a letter to the police department stating their frustration, with the amount of information that’s been released about Friday’s shooting.
“We’re not attacking them, we’re not saying you guys immediately did something bad,” said Wenzel. “We’re saying, ‘hey as community members, we’re concerned and we want to know if the person who was shot is okay.’ We want to know the names of the officers involved, we think that’s very important.”
The current condition of the person who was shot, is still unknown.
The name of the officer has not been released.
When the investigation is complete, DCI will turn over its findings to the Winnebago County District Attorney to determine if any criminal charges should be filed.
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