Waukesha Officer Shoots Knife-Wielding Suspect in Meijer Hostage Incident
Today, Thursday, July 30, 2026, at approximately 5:51 p.m., the City of Waukesha Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call from the Meijer grocery store located at 801 East Sunset Avenue. The caller, an adult male, stated that he was armed with a knife, had taken a hostage, and demanded to speak with a hostage negotiator.
Waukesha Police officers immediately responded to the store while a trained crisis negotiator initially established telephone contact with the suspect.
Responding officers were directed to the suspect’s location inside the store. Upon making contact, officers observed the suspect armed with a knife and in close proximity to a 59-year-old male victim. Officers issued multiple commands for the suspect to drop the knife.
Based on the suspect’s actions and the immediate threat he posed to the victim and responding officers, one officer discharged their firearm to stop the threat of the armed suspect.
Officers immediately transitioned to providing emergency medical care to the suspect, including the application of a tourniquet. The suspect was transported by ambulance to a local hospital and remains in critical condition.
The victim also sustained injuries. He was treated at the scene for non-life-threatening injuries and transported to a local hospital.
The knife believed to have been used in the incident was recovered at the scene.
One officer was involved in the shooting. The officer is 26 years old and has five years of law enforcement experience. In accordance with department policy and standard law enforcement practice, the officer has been placed on administrative leave.
The incident was captured on body-worn camera. To maintain the integrity of the investigation, the video will not be released at this time.
The Waukesha Police Department would like to thank all responding agencies who assisted in this incident. To include the Waukesha Fire Department, Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin State Patrol , Wisconsin State Crime Lab, and the Milwaukee Area Investigative Team.
As required under Wisconsin law, an independent investigation will be conducted by an outside agency. The Milwaukee Area Investigative Team has assumed responsibility for the investigation, with the Greenfield Police Department serving as the lead agency. Upon completion, the investigation will be forwarded to the Waukesha County District Attorney’s Office for review.
Preliminary investigation shows that the officers acted within state statutes, department policy, department training and fulfilled the Mission of the Waukesha Police Department, “A Pledge to Serve with Integrity, Honor and Courage.”
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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