DISTRICT ATTORNEY Oshkosh (920) 236-4977

WINNEBAGO COUNTY Fox Cities (920) 727-2888

ERIC D. SPARR P.O. Box 2808 FAX (920) 236-4952
DISTRICT ATTORNEY Oshkosh, Wl 54903-2808 winnebaaoda@da.wi.qov

LEGAL OPINION REGARDING OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING ON NOVEMBER

19, 2022, RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF LUCAS L. CHRISTENSON

To avoid potential conflict , my office received a request to review the officer involved
shooting that resulted in the death of Lucas L. Christenson, D.O.B. 7/20/76, on November
19, 2022. This incident occurred in the basement of S. Lafayette Street, City of
Shawano, Shawano County, Wisconsin. The investigation was conducted by the
Shawano County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the Wisconsin Division of Criminal
Investigation (“DCI”). A full investigatory report was completed by Det. C. Gamm of the
Shawano County Sheriff ’s Office, which was peer reviewed by Special Agent T. Sleeman
of DCI.

Summary of Facts:

Shortly after 5:00 PM on 11/19/22, Shawano Police Department officers Jeff Buettner,
Taylor Yonker, and Jacob Korth responded to S. Lafayette Street, Shawano. Off.
Buettner was aware that Lucas Christenson and his wife (referenced throughout this
document as “W1”) were the owners of this residence, and that they were in the process
of a divorce. Officers believed that Lucas had been living at a different location, and
officers had previously investigated complaints of harassment by Lucas, directed at W1.

The dispatch included information that a shot or shots had been fired, and officers
responded with emergency lights activated. Officers spoke with a male at the front door
that indicated Lucas and W1 were in the basement, and that there was a loaded shotgun.
The male indicated that one shot had been fired, and they needed help. Officers could
hear yelling coming from the basement. Off. Buettner yelled a number of directives down
the stairs, advising Lucas that the police were on scene, and instructing him to come
upstairs. Off. Buettner repeated these instructions numerous times, but Lucas did not
respond. Off. Buettner asked dispatch to make phone contact with the individuals in the
basement. Body camera recordings show that dispatch advised , “It sounds like both
parties are locked in the basement, she’s trying to get away, male still has the [gun].”