FOX CROSSING, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Investigators have released 911 calls that show a man, later identified as 25-year Joshua Gomoll, was threatening people with a knife before he was shot and killed by police.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice also released police body camera video of the shooting.
We want to warn you. The video is graphic, and may not be appropriate for all viewers.
The Winnebago County District Attorney ruled that the shooting was justified and no charges will be filed against the officer.
The first 911 call came in at 2:48 in the afternoon.
“I want to report a really odd guy in the middle of the street. He’s, like, having a violent temper and throwing stuff and kind of running out in traffic,” the first caller said.
Eight minutes later, there was a second 911 call.
“This guy is running down the street with a knife, threatening everyone he sees. He just threatened a lady and her toddler in the car and she just took off,” the caller reported.
At 3:02, a person at Fritse Park called 911.
“Some guy was running. He was talking to himself. He kind of looked at us and he waved. So, I waved back. He’s like, ‘What are you looking at? I’m going to get you’ and then he pulled a knife out.”
Minutes later, Fox Crossing Officer Seely Moe encountered Gomoll on the Trestle Trail bridge.
“Get down on the ground,” you can hear Officer Moe yelling on the video.
On the body camera video, you can hear Gomoll making noises and you can see him taking steps towards Officer Moe before the officer fired.
As Gomoll laid on the ground, officers tried to determine whether he still had the knife so they could safely administer first aid.
“Put your hands out so we can help you,” another responding officer said.
“He’s still got the knife in his hand,” another officer said.
As officers moved in, one officer used his Taser as another kicked away the knife. The officers then delivered first aid until paramedics arrived. Gomoll died at the scene.
According to a report from the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Gomoll’s family told investigators he was “…a recovering heroin addict…” and had been clean for several years.
But in the month leading up to the shooting, his mother told police her son “…had started acting “erratic” and was “pacing” a lot.” According to the reports, she also told police her son had been “…recently fired from his job…”
In an interview with police, Gomoll’s father said he believed his son “…recently relapsed back into drug use.” Gomoll’s father also noted his son had “…a recent break-up…’ with his girlfriend.
Gomoll’s ex-girlfriend told police he “…started becoming paranoid.” and that his “…attitude changed…” a month before the shooting. She told police she thought Gomoll “…started using some type of drug(s)…”
FOX 11 reached out to Gomoll’s family for comment. In a message, his mother said, “He was not a monster he was my son a dad a brother and very loving at that!!!”
The Winnebago County District Attorney ruled that the shooting was justified and there will be no criminal charges filed. The DA called the shooting a tragedy for everyone involved and offered his condolences to the Gomoll family.
