Story Created:
Oct 11, 2007
Story Updated:
Oct 12, 2007
Authorities have released 13 9-1-1 calls made in relation to the mass shooting in Crandon over the weekend. The calls help to shed light on the chaos and response to the initial shooting and give some indication about a timeline in the hours that followed.
Click Here to Listen to the 9-1-1 calls
Before we get to the calls that were released, the Wisconsin Department of Justice is holding back some of the calls today.
One call, which appears to have been made by Jordanne Murray's father, will likely never be released. According to the statement from the Department of Justice the call was made by "the father of one of the Crandon murder victims. The Victim's Family Call was made contemporaneous with the father's discovery of his child and the realization that the child and others were dead. In addition the sounds of human suffering can be heard on the audio." Newsradio 620 WTMJ has no plans to press the state for the release of this audio.
The state says it is not releasing other calls because they relate to an "ongoing criminal investigation." The state did not expand on what that investigation is focused on. The state, however, did not release any calls made from the Kegley family.
Mike Kegley told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel earlier this week that the shooter, Tyler Peterson, showed up at his home at 7:30 the morning after the shooting. he claimed that his wife discreetly called 9-1-1. If that call exists, it was not released. The Kegley's say at one point Peterson left and they called 9-1-1 again. In fact, he's quoted as saying the family called 9-1-1 as many as 20 times.
He says by 10:30 when there was still no sign of police at his house, Kegley claims he walked down the road, where he found law enforcement. He says at that point he drew a map of the property and officers surrounded it. But he claims they never made a move on Peterson. He claimed he heard gunshots when Peterson walked into the woods at about 2 in the afternoon.
Interestingly, the 9-1-1 calls seem to indicate that Peterson died around 12:45 in the afternoon. That's when a state Department of Justice agent called to ask for medical attention. A minute later, the agent called back to cancel the response, suggesting Peterson was dead.
Calls Shed Light on Response Time and Chaos of Scene
The 9-1-1 calls that were released show a chaotic initial scene. In one call, you can hear a neighbor yelling at her children to get down.
You can also hear the officer who responded initially to the scene, Greg Carter, immediately identify the shooter as "Deputy Peterson." He tells the dispatcher that Peterson was, "shooting toward people." Carter initially thought he was hit.
Dispatchers immediately call the sheriff, page the swat team and call for backup.
It appears based on another call that came in at 2:58 in the morning, nine minutes after the initial call, that medical services still were not on scene by that time. The caller says, "someone is sobbing and they say they need an ambulance."
Call From Victim's Grandpa Raises Question About Car
Phil McCorke, Katrina McCorkle's grandfather calls 9-1-1 at 11:36 on the morning after the shooting. He tells the dispatcher that her car was outside a trailer near where he was staying. He claims it hadn't been there before.
It's not clear if he was mistaken or if her car was actually moved following the shooting. McCorkle says, "I hear they're still looking for that guy and I don't know if he's got her car and took off in the woods."
Witnesses of the shooting say Peterson fled in a pickup truck.
One Caller Reports Peterson on the Move at 8:47 in the Morning
Authorities got at least one call from someone who told them someone they knew thought they had seen Peterson driving on Highway P near Argonne. It's not clear where Peterson may have been headed.
Mike Kegley told the Journal Sentinel that Peterson did leave his home at one point, apparently to see his relatives.