For More On Shooting
Reports related to the officer-involved shooting death of Francisco Benitez Santiago on July 22 in Monroe can be found online at the Wisconsin Department of Justice's website. To read more, go to www.doj.state.wi.us. Across the top right of the page are several drop-down menus; select DOJ News and go to Officer Involved Critical Incidents. The DOJ specifies that graphic photos have been omitted from the reports, and some information, such as personal information about witnesses, has been redacted.
MONROE - A Monroe resident at the scene of a fatal officer-involved shooting this summer says the man ignored officers' commands to drop his weapon, and instead pointed his gun at the deputies, according to a report by the Department of Justice.
The summary report describes details of the fatal shooting of the armed homicide suspect by two Green County sheriff's deputies. Francisco Benitez Santiago, the sole suspect in the homicide of Samuel Primero Nunez and the attempted homicide of Elias Perez-Barrios earlier that same night, was shot at by Green County deputies Cody Kanable and John Schuetz after the officers made contact with Santiago, and he pointed a gun at them, the report says.
Det. Larry Keegan of the Monroe Police Department was also present but did not fire his weapon.
The investigation was turned over to the Department of Justice because it involves police officers. Both deputies were also placed on administrative leave, as is protocol.
The report includes a 19-page summary of what transpired on July 22, as well as an additional 550 pages of supporting documents. The DOJ released the report and posted it online Friday.
At about 7:10 p.m. that night, officers responded to a reported shooting at a trailer home at 702 17th St. Officers found Nunez deceased and Perez-Barrios critically wounded outside the trailer. A witness there told police that Santiago "argued, fought and shot both individuals" before fleeing the scene.
Minutes later a 911 call reported a man "covered in blood and possessing a gun" was at 1007 12th St. Green County deputies, who were assisting the Monroe police, were sent to that address.
Witnesses
The report includes statements from witnesses who saw Santiago when he arrived at the 12th Street location. Several people, including at least three children, were socializing outside. One witness knew Santiago as "Pedro" and described him as jittery and agitated. Santiago attempted to enter one of the units at the address, but he was told to leave and was blocked from entry. Santiago was on the ground, with his head "peeking around the corner" and revealed the handgun in his waistband to the witness.
The witness, fearful of being shot by Santiago, returned to the others. They took the children and dogs inside and after a few minutes, the witness called 911. The dispatcher advised the witness to retreat to the room farthest away from where Santiago was last seen, but the witness wanted to "keep an eye on him" and instead peeked at Santiago, still on the ground, between the window blinds.
The witness reported hearing two unknown voices shout "Hands up" and "Down on the ground." The witness reported seeing Santiago begin to get up from the ground, pull the gun from his waistband and point it in the direction of the voices. As Santiago raised the gun, the witness said, there was a loud "pop" followed by several other "pops."
Another witness at the scene recounted a similar story. That witness heard an officer say "Freeze," "Stand up" and "Rollover," and then heard several gunshots. In a later statement, the witness reported hearing an officer say "Drop it," and another officer say "Drop it now."
Another witness said when Santiago arrived at the location, he appeared panic-striken and asked several times for a ride to Beloit. That person's view was obstructed but reported hearing an officer say "Don't you run" and seeing Santiago make a turning motion toward an officer.
Officers
Kanable told investigators he responded to the trailer park shooting scene, as directed, to find a witness, upset and crying, who identified the shooter as "Pancho." The witness said the men had been drinking, and Santiago had a small, black gun.
On hearing there was a male covered in blood a few blocks away, Kanable headed to that location. He said he took police dog Ike with him as he got out of the squad car and went towards the house. He could see Santiago, and announced himself and said "Show me your hands," but the suspect turned and went behind the house. Kanable and another deputy hurried to where Santiago had been seen, and Kanable drew his pistol as he went with the dog's leash in his other hand.
As he moved around the side of the house into an "overgrown" area, Kanable saw the suspect "squatted down" with a handgun drawn in the officers' direction. Kanable said as soon as Santiago saw Kanable, Santiago "stood up and squared up with me." Kanable said he recalled believing he was going to be shot and killed. He said he immediately fired his gun at Santiago.
Schuetz said as he arrived at the 12th Street location, he saw an adult male duck between two buildings and told Kanable. Schuetz followed Kanable around the side of a building in pursuit of Santiago. Schuetz said Santiago, holding a gun and looking directly at the officers, came out quickly from around the corner of the building. Schuetz said he yelled "Drop the gun." Santiago ignored the command, and raised the gun up to the officers' chest level. Schuetz heard Kanable fire his gun and then fired his own rifle. He also told investigators he believed Santiago was going to shoot him.
Keegan told investigators he arrived at the scene just after Kanable and Schuetz. He started across the yard and was 10 to 20 feet behind the other two. He reported he heard them both yelling something and then firing their weapons almost simultaneously.
A Monroe police officer on the scene began to give aid to Santiago immediately. He later died as a result of his injuries.
The summary report describes details of the fatal shooting of the armed homicide suspect by two Green County sheriff's deputies. Francisco Benitez Santiago, the sole suspect in the homicide of Samuel Primero Nunez and the attempted homicide of Elias Perez-Barrios earlier that same night, was shot at by Green County deputies Cody Kanable and John Schuetz after the officers made contact with Santiago, and he pointed a gun at them, the report says.
Det. Larry Keegan of the Monroe Police Department was also present but did not fire his weapon.
The investigation was turned over to the Department of Justice because it involves police officers. Both deputies were also placed on administrative leave, as is protocol.
The report includes a 19-page summary of what transpired on July 22, as well as an additional 550 pages of supporting documents. The DOJ released the report and posted it online Friday.
At about 7:10 p.m. that night, officers responded to a reported shooting at a trailer home at 702 17th St. Officers found Nunez deceased and Perez-Barrios critically wounded outside the trailer. A witness there told police that Santiago "argued, fought and shot both individuals" before fleeing the scene.
Minutes later a 911 call reported a man "covered in blood and possessing a gun" was at 1007 12th St. Green County deputies, who were assisting the Monroe police, were sent to that address.
Witnesses
The report includes statements from witnesses who saw Santiago when he arrived at the 12th Street location. Several people, including at least three children, were socializing outside. One witness knew Santiago as "Pedro" and described him as jittery and agitated. Santiago attempted to enter one of the units at the address, but he was told to leave and was blocked from entry. Santiago was on the ground, with his head "peeking around the corner" and revealed the handgun in his waistband to the witness.
The witness, fearful of being shot by Santiago, returned to the others. They took the children and dogs inside and after a few minutes, the witness called 911. The dispatcher advised the witness to retreat to the room farthest away from where Santiago was last seen, but the witness wanted to "keep an eye on him" and instead peeked at Santiago, still on the ground, between the window blinds.
The witness reported hearing two unknown voices shout "Hands up" and "Down on the ground." The witness reported seeing Santiago begin to get up from the ground, pull the gun from his waistband and point it in the direction of the voices. As Santiago raised the gun, the witness said, there was a loud "pop" followed by several other "pops."
Another witness at the scene recounted a similar story. That witness heard an officer say "Freeze," "Stand up" and "Rollover," and then heard several gunshots. In a later statement, the witness reported hearing an officer say "Drop it," and another officer say "Drop it now."
Another witness said when Santiago arrived at the location, he appeared panic-striken and asked several times for a ride to Beloit. That person's view was obstructed but reported hearing an officer say "Don't you run" and seeing Santiago make a turning motion toward an officer.
Officers
Kanable told investigators he responded to the trailer park shooting scene, as directed, to find a witness, upset and crying, who identified the shooter as "Pancho." The witness said the men had been drinking, and Santiago had a small, black gun.
On hearing there was a male covered in blood a few blocks away, Kanable headed to that location. He said he took police dog Ike with him as he got out of the squad car and went towards the house. He could see Santiago, and announced himself and said "Show me your hands," but the suspect turned and went behind the house. Kanable and another deputy hurried to where Santiago had been seen, and Kanable drew his pistol as he went with the dog's leash in his other hand.
As he moved around the side of the house into an "overgrown" area, Kanable saw the suspect "squatted down" with a handgun drawn in the officers' direction. Kanable said as soon as Santiago saw Kanable, Santiago "stood up and squared up with me." Kanable said he recalled believing he was going to be shot and killed. He said he immediately fired his gun at Santiago.
Schuetz said as he arrived at the 12th Street location, he saw an adult male duck between two buildings and told Kanable. Schuetz followed Kanable around the side of a building in pursuit of Santiago. Schuetz said Santiago, holding a gun and looking directly at the officers, came out quickly from around the corner of the building. Schuetz said he yelled "Drop the gun." Santiago ignored the command, and raised the gun up to the officers' chest level. Schuetz heard Kanable fire his gun and then fired his own rifle. He also told investigators he believed Santiago was going to shoot him.
Keegan told investigators he arrived at the scene just after Kanable and Schuetz. He started across the yard and was 10 to 20 feet behind the other two. He reported he heard them both yelling something and then firing their weapons almost simultaneously.
A Monroe police officer on the scene began to give aid to Santiago immediately. He later died as a result of his injuries.