Suspect identified in deadly shooting spree
Domestic dispute sparked killings, authorities say
ROTHSCHILD - The suspect arrested in the shooting deaths of four people Wednesday is a middle-aged Weston man who was targeting his estranged wife, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin has learned.
Police believe Nengmy Vang, 45, committed the shootings, according to multiple people with knowledge of Vang’s involvement.
Police at a Thursday afternoon briefing declined to name Vang or say exactly what motivated the killings, except to say they stemmed from a “domestic incident” involving a husband and wife.
The husband had targeted the wife in the shootings, but she escaped unharmed, said Jason Smith, deputy administrator of the state Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation.
Vang is seeking to divorce his 41-year-old wife of more than two decades. He called the marriage “irretrievably broken” in a court filing obtained by USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.
The couple have at least six children.
No one answered the door Thursday at a Weston home where court records indicate Vang’s wife and the couple’s minor children reside. A lawyer for Vang did not respond to requests for comment.
Police have not yet interviewed Vang, who was shot by police and requires “intense medical care” at a Wausau hospital, Smith said.
A detective and an attorney were among those Vang is suspected of killing Wednesday in a spree that started at a bank.
The Department of Justice on Thursday identified the victims as Everest Metro Police Detective Jason Weiland, 40; Marathon Savings Bank employees Dianne M. Look, 67, and Karen L. Barclay, 62; and attorney Sara H. Quirt Sann, 43.
Weiland was a police officer for 18 years, the last 15 of which were with the Everest Metro Police Department. He is survived by his wife and two children.
The Everest department’s website listed Weiland as a field training officer and member of a task force for internet crimes against children. His LinkedIn page said he had also worked as a narcotics detective for the Marathon County Sheriff’s Department and as a police officer and corrections officer for Marathon City and Marathon County.
The Department of Justice released information about the other victims:
Look grew up in many places but called Wisconsin home. A graduate of D.C. Everest High School, she has two children, Christy Bleu and Chuck Mientke.
Look had been a branch manager of the bank since 1998.
Look met her husband, Robert Look, while working at a local bank in 1988. The two married in 1992 and lived in South Dakota for a number of years before returning to Wisconsin in 1998.
Barclay moved to
MADISON - Some victims of job discrimination would not be able to recover their legal costs from their bosses under the state budget proposed by Gov. Scott Walker.
Under another budget provision, those who failed to prove they faced workplace discrimination could be forced to pay their employer’s attorney fees.
And in some cases, those who proved they were victims of discrimination would have to pay the legal fees of their bosses if they had rejected a settlement offer that would have been more favorable than the ruling they ultimately received.
Similar rules would be in place for claims brought under the state’s family medical leave law.
Supporters of the budget proposals say they would cut down on frivolous claims, while detractors say it would make people less likely to file worthy complaints because of the costs they might have to bear.
“It takes away the teeth of litigation,” said Astar Herndon, state director of 9to5, a group that represents working women. “I’m confused by legislation that has punitive measures against employees.”
A spokesman for Walker and the heads of the Legislature’s budget committee did not respond to requests for comment.
Workers who say they are victims of job discrimination can file complaints with the state Equal Rights Division. Workers can win their jobs back or get back pay if they convince administrative law judges that they were wronged.
Workers who win often get rulings that require employers to pay their legal fees.
Walker’s proposal would change that in some cases.
For instance, workers could not recover attorney fees if they did not win back pay or some other tangible benefit. That could result in situations in which people can’t get their legal fees covered even though they won a finding that they were victims of age discrimination or sexual harassment.
In another change, workers would have to pay their employer’s legal fees in some situations.
If someone filed a complaint against an employer, the employer would have a chance to offer a settlement. If the worker rejected the settlement and the ultimate ruling was not as favorable as the settlement would have been, the person filing the complaint would have to pick up the attorney fees of the employer.
Employers would also face penalties if they rejected offers made by workers if the ultimate ruling didn’t go their way. In those situations, they would have to pay interest on any money they owe to workers.
The provisions in Walker’s budget would likely lead to more settlements if the Legislature goes along with them, said employment lawyer Robert Driscoll.
It would also reduce the filing of claims that are frivolous or involve minor violations, he said.
The proposals would put “the balance a little more on the employer side,” but could also help those with serious claims because their cases would be heard more quickly, Driscoll said.
“It opens up the system for claims that actually should be litigated,” he said, adding that he was not taking a position for or against Walker’s plan.
Lawmakers can modify or eliminate the proposal as they consider the budget over the coming months. Walker’s fellow Republicans control the Legislature.