Wisconsin Deputy Cleared in Fatal Shooting at Hospital

March 22, 2013
Walworth County Deputy Richard Lagle, who shot and killed a suspect who was trying to escape from a hospital room earlier this year, has been cleared of wrongdoing.

A Walworth County Sheriff's Deputy who shot and killed a suspect who was trying to escape from a hospital room has been cleared of wrongdoing by Walworth County District Attorney Daniel A. Necci, according to a letter released Friday.

Deputy Richard Lagle was justified in shooting Alfredo Villarreal, 18, of Janesville, five times at Aurora Lakeland Medical Center in Elkhorn on Jan. 21, Necci wrote to Walworth County Sheriff David Graves.

Necci's letter says the incident marked "a tragic day for our county."

"A deputy sheriff was brutally attacked and forced to utilize his firearm in defense, a young man lost his life, and, as a result, family and friends of law enforcement personnel and Mr. Villarreal, in our county and beyond, suffer from fear, anxiety and grief," the letter says. "I know that you will join me in praying for healing for all involved or affected."

Villarreal was in custody on pending charges of first-degree recklessly endangering safety and bail jumping, according to online court records.

According to Necci's letter, here's what led to his death:

In the early morning hours of Jan. 21, about eight hours after Villarreal was booked into the jail, he was found facedown in his cell with a cut on his head. He told staff members he had collapsed after using the toilet, so they called an ambulance. Lagle accompanied Villarreal to the hospital.

Around 6 p.m., Villarreal, who was shackled to the bed, said he had to use the restroom, so Lagle removed the leg iron. After returning from the restroom, Villarreal sat down on the bed. As Lagle tried to replace the shackle, Villarreal kicked him in the face, "causing Deputy Lagle to see a white flash and begin to bleed profusely from the nose," the letter says.

The struggle moved into the hallway. Lagle tried to use his Taser, but the end of it fell off. Villarreal then went back into the hospital room and closed the door. Lagle made repeated calls for help on his radio, but did not know if anyone heard him, because he also "had lost his ear piece at some point in the struggle," the letter says. He managed to put his Taser back together, fearing he would pass out.

"Deputy Lagle fired his Taser to no avail, as it appears that either he missed or hit the closed door," the letter says.

Lagle pulled out his gun and opened the door. Villarreal was smashing a chair against the window, which was cracked, and said he would not go back to jail. Villarreal then "charged Deputy Lagle with the aforementioned chair in hand, came to within several feet of him and stopped," the letter says. "Mr. Villarreal looked around the room, then looked at and squared his body toward Deputy Lagle, and raised the chair again in aggression toward Deputy Lagle."

Lagle shot Villarreal three times in the torso, once in the hand, and once on the top of the head.

Copyright 2013 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Sponsored Recommendations

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Officer, create an account today!