The male caller asked the dispatcher to “send them please” and hung up. Dispatchers attempted to call the individual back, but they did not receive an answer.
The first Washington County Deputy arrived at the residence within three minutes of the 911 call.
Before exiting his squad car, the deputy encountered the 47-year-old Richfield man armed with a shotgun in the yard.
Upon sight of the deputy, the male subject shot himself.
The deputy immediately began lifesaving efforts and was eventually relieved by the Richfield Fire Department EMS; however, the man was pronounced dead on scene. Thankfully, the deputy was uninjured.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office does not typically release details on these types of deaths; however, since a deputy was at the residence near the individual at the time he shot himself, the Sheriff’s Deputies is releasing limited information.
Although not required by law, but in the interest of transparency, the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office took the lead on this investigation and are working alongside the Washington County Medical Examiner’s Office.