A Wisconsin state trooper was shot and killed in Fond du Lac Tuesday afternoon after the pursuit of a suspected bank robber ended with gunfire.
State Trooper Trevor Casper was following a vehicle driven by Steven Snyder, the suspect of a bank robbery in Wausaukee, at the time of the incident. At approximately 5:30 p.m., Snyder and Casper engaged in gunfire that fatally wounded both people, according to a Department of Justice press release.
Video surveillance confirmed Snyder attempted to rob the State Bank of Florence at 1:43 p.m. Tuesday. Snyder fired a handgun during the robbery but did not injure anyone, according to a statement from the Wisconsin Bankers Association.
Following the bank robbery, Marinette County Sheriff Jerry Sauve reported that Snyder shot and killed Thomas Christ, a resident of Wausaukee, after an encounter near Christ’s property Tuesday afternoon.
The press release noted officials have not confirmed Snyder was involved in any other bank robberies Tuesday, but another robbery occurred before Snyder’s encounter with Casper.
Casper, who was originally from Kiel, was 21 years old and had been on the job for three months after graduating from the State Patrol Academy in December, according to a news release from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
State Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt, R-Fond du Lac, voiced his remorse Wednesday in a statement, saying Casper’s sacrifice will never be forgotten in his duties to protect and serve citizens and the state.”
Casper’s family also released a statement reflecting on his choice to become a state trooper.
“Our son Trevor was an amazing young man who from a young age would do anything to help anyone,” Casper’s family said in the statement. “When we asked Trevor if he was ready for his career as a Wisconsin State Trooper, Trevor proudly told us that he was ‘born ready to do this job.’”
