GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — An off-duty deputy is being credited with providing first aid to the bystander injured in last month’s shooting at the Fox River Mall.
The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office says Deputy Blaine Evans was in Grand Chute on Jan. 31, celebrating a relative’s birthday at a restaurant.
Afterward, Evans and his family went to Scheels. While inside, they saw people running and learned of shots fired.
Evans, who became separated from his family, told a store manager he was an off-duty deputy. He was taken to a video surveillance room in hopes of identifying the shooter on camera feeds.
Evans and the manager spotted a victim laying on an outdoor sidewalk near the store entrance. Evans was allowed to leave and respond to the victim.
The victim was found with a gunshot wound to the hip, and Evans used a sterile feminine pad from a passing female to apply pressure and stop the bleeding.
Shortly after, Evans saw a man who appeared to match the description of the shooter. The man was coming toward them with his hands in his pockets.
Evans transitioned to protective mode, ordering him to show his hands. He drew his gun and identified him as a member of law enforcement.
The man later complied, and it was discovered he was not the suspect but instead knew the victim.
Evans resumed treating the victim and provided arriving law enforcement with information about the suspect. He volunteered to stay with the victim to allow law enforcement to search for the suspect and other potential victims.
An ambulance later arrived and took the victim to a hospital. Evans rode along to provide security until an on-duty officer took over.
Evans was able to rejoin his family later that evening.
“It’s important that members of the Fond du Lac community know the caliber of law enforcement deputies that protect our community here every day. I’m honored to work alongside these deputies, who not only risk their personal safety protecting the citizens of our own county while on-duty, but who also jump into action to protect innocent citizens from danger in other communities, even while off-duty,” Fond du Lac County Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt said in a news release. “Tragically, one life was lost in the shooting that evening. However, the heroic actions of Deputy Blaine Evans not only helped save a victim who sustained a gunshot wound during the shooting, but he was also able to gather preliminary information about the shooter and provide it to the initial responding officers.”
The shooting resulted in the death of 19-year-old Jovanni Frausto. Colt Lemmers, 20, was identified as the injured bystander.
The suspect, 17-year-old Dezman Ellis, was arrested last week in Iowa and brought back to Wisconsin. He is charged with first-degree intentional homicide. A court commissioner has set bail at $1.5 million cash.
