A state Department of Justice investigation has determined a Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s deputy responded in self-defense and that there is no basis to issue criminal charges against the deputy in connection with a shootout that ended with the suspect taking his own life. The incident happened last October near Western Avenue where a woman said she had been held at gunpoint. Gunfire was exchanged between sheriff’s deputy Blaine Evans and the suspect Kyle Massie. According to the report Massie died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Evans was not injured, but his K9 Iro was shot as many as five times and has since recovered. Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney says the entire incident lasted 67 seconds. “I commend deputy Evans for his quick action based on the circumstances,” Toney said. “With Kyle Massie at the residence and then leaving with an AR rifle it seems likely he was looking for the female victim that had escaped the residence. The deputy got there and helped end the threat to the community.” Toney says the investigation found that deputy Evans fired 45 rounds, with two bullets striking Massie causing non life-threatening injuries. Massie fired 11 rounds, with five rounds striking K9 Iro, five rounds fired toward deputy Evans, and one self-inflicted wound to his head, according to the report. Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt says he’s convinced that K9 Iro saved deputy Evans’ life. Waldschmidt says Iro continues his recovery but hopes he can rejoin the force sometime this year.
