FORT ATKINSON, Wis. (AP) - Authorities on Wednesday identified a suspect who was shot and killed last week by three Wisconsin State Patrol officers, as well as the troopers involved in the incident.
Wisconsin Department of Justice officials said Joseph Crawford, 23, was shot when he tried to carjack a vehicle in Fort Atkinson following a pursuit. Crawford died of multiple gunshot wounds at the scene.
The troopers involved, Keegan Williams, Alexander Polizzi and David Heinisch, have been placed on administrative leave, as required by department policy.
The incident happened on Dec. 9 when troopers tried to get Crawford to pull over for speeding on Highway 26 between Watertown and Johnson Creek, the DOJ said. Crawford stopped briefly and a passenger, Desmond Watkins, exited the vehicle and ran. Officers later arrested Watkins, 22.
Troopers began chasing Crawford, who fired shots at them during the pursuit, the DOJ said. Crawford eventually hit a spike strip and got off the highway and drove into Fort Atkinson before stopping in a median. He was shot when he tried to carjack the vehicle.
Crawford was later identified to be a suspect in a bank robbery that occurred in Monona earlier that day. Troopers were not aware of this when they attempted the traffic stop, the DOJ said.
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