Man shot and killed, another jailed after suspected road rage incident in western Wisconsin

One man was shot to death and another jailed after a suspected road rage incident in western Wisconsin, authorities said Tuesday.

Pickup truck occupant Lauritz Robertson, 45, of Barron, was shot about 4:45 p.m. Monday in Barron on N. Mill Street, the Barron County Sheriff's Office said.

A 20-year-old man from nearby Cumberland fled the scene in a car, but later turned himself in. He is currently jailed on suspicion of killing Robertson.

Charges are expected as soon as Wednesday. The Star Tribune generally does not identify suspects before they are charged.

A 911 caller reported that a man had been shot and the gunman had fled in a car, according to the Sheriff's Office.

As officers were en route, the suspect called 911 and was arrested in the parking lot of the Barron County Justice Center, the Sheriff's Office added.

"Initial investigation shows a possible road rage incident took place," read a statement from the Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald declined to say what is leading investigators to suspect that road rage led to the gunfire, other than it's based on "information that we've gathered" from witness interviews.

Evelyn Jackson said Robertson "was truly my best friend for the past 15 years."

Jackson said Robertson was on his way to a convenience store when he was shot. She grew worried after she hadn't heard from him later that day.

"I called Lauritz and messaged him, 'Are you OK?' " Jackson said, holding back tears. "And then I saw that his brother posted that Lauritz had died."

Jackson described Robertson as "such a funny man [who] would do anything for anybody."

The Barron News-Shield, the county's main weekly newspaper, reported that the suspect told police dispatch that he opened fire because the man tried to grab his gun from his lap and took a swing at him.

Jackson, having read the news account, said, "That doesn't sound like Lauritz, to grab somebody's gun."

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482