A final report on a shootout that claimed the life of a state patrol trooper and bank robbery suspect portrays the trooper as a hero whose actions probably saved the lives of others. The report concluded that trooper Trevor Casper responded appropriately. On March 24th trooper Casper was shot and fatally wounded but not before he was able to return fire and kill the suspect. The incident happened outside the West Johnson Street Pick N Save grocery store in Fond du Lac. District Attorney Eric Toney says the suspect fired nine times with three bullets striking Casper. Casper managed to get off 12 shots. Toney says the exchange of gunfire lasted approximately 17 seconds. “It is certain that more innocent lives would have been endangered or lost had trooper Casper not ended an active and ongoing threat that the suspect posed to the community and trooper Casper,” Toney said. “After shooting trooper Casper the suspect attempted to flee the scene. The suspect was armed with 84 additional rounds of ammunition and was attempting to reload a handgun.” State patrol Colonel Brian Rahn says the incident has had a tremendous impact on the department.
