Four workers were wounded after a fellow employee opened fire in their Middleton office Wednesday morning, according to police reports.
The gunman was an employee at WTS Paradigm, a Middleton software company, according to a witness statement reported by the Wisconsin State Journal. Authorities responded to 911 calls from the 1800 block of Deming Way, just off University Avenue, around 10:25 a.m.
Andrew King, an employee at TrafficCast, located near the scene, told the Wisconsin State Journal that he “saw a dude walking with a gun inside the building.”
Middleton Police Chief Charles Foulke stated that he had been in the building just before the shooting began.
More than 50 police officers responded to the scene, and the ensuing shootout left the suspect critically wounded, according to a statement from the Middleton Police Department.
“Four officers engaged and neutralized the suspect,” Foulke said in a press conference.
The shooter was taken to an area hospital, where they later died. The four injured employees remain in care at UW Hospital.
UW Hospital spokesman Andrew Hellpap told the Wisconsin State Journal that one of the victims was in critical condition late Wednesday afternoon, while two were listed in serious condition. St. Mary's Hospital also treated one victim with injuries that were not life-threatening, spokeswoman Kim Sveum said.
Sentry Insurance employee Lance Muzzillo was working on the fourth floor of the building during the shooting, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.
“I didn’t hear anything. It was quick,” Muzzillo said. “We were on lockdown for maybe 45 minutes and then we had Dane County Sheriff's officers come up and account for everybody on our floor and then escort us down to this spot.”
Residents in the area were told to seek shelter, and area schools were placed on lockdown, which has since been lifted. UW-Madison Police Department officers responded to the scene as backup.
So far, no motive has been identified and the case is under investigation.
