Wisconsin man with gun killed by deputies

Man shot dead by sheriff's deputies in Hammond, Wis., after he points gun at them.

February 25, 2008 at 3:55AM

Wisconsin man with gun killed by deputies A man from rural Hammond, Wis., was shot dead late Saturday by St. Croix County sheriff's deputies, who said he pointed a shotgun at them.

Authorities were called at 11 p.m. to the home of Jacob Lee Sperl, 22, who had a shotgun and reportedly was making suicidal threats. Sperl had told the callers that he had shells for the shotgun, was going to take his own life, and "that if the cops come up the driveway, it will be too late." Sperl's parents were in the home.

The first two deputies to arrive watched two acquaintances of Sperl pull up to the house and speak with him outside a garage. When the deputies approached, Sperl picked up the gun and pointed it at a deputy, ignoring orders to put the gun down, according to a statement from the sheriff's office. Both deputies then shot Sperl, who died at the scene.

The sheriff's office said that the shotgun was loaded and that 19 additional rounds were found on Sperl's body.

Both deputies are on administrative leave, standard policy in such cases. The shooting is under investigation by the Pierce and St. Croix County sheriffs' offices.

about the writer

about the writer

Abby Simons

Team Leader

Abby Simons is the Minnesota Star Tribune's Public Safety Editor. Her team covers crime and courts across the metro. She joined the Minnesota Star Tribune in 2008 and previously reported on crime, courts and politics.

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