Dianne Look, Jason Weiland, and Sara Quirt Sann were killed in a Wisconsin shooting spree. Karen Barclay (not pictured) also died. (Facebook)
The four victims in a Wausau, Wisconsin shooting spree have been identified as a veteran police officer, two female bank employees and a divorce lawyer.
The suspect has been identified by Wisconsin and Minnesota media as Nengmy Vang, whose wife was represented in a divorce case by the slain lawyer. You can read more about him here.
The state Department of Justice identified the victims in a news release on March 23, but is withholding the name of the 45-year-old suspect, who is recovering in the hospital from non-fatal injuries. He is from the Town of Weston.
According to the DOJ, the victims were Officer Jason Weiland, bank employees Dianne Look and Karen Barclay, and lawyer Sara Quirt Sann (pictured below). A photo of Barclay will be added to this story when one is obtained.
DOJ says the motive was domestic violence, although Nengmy Vang’s estranged wife was not physically harmed. A Wisconsin bank has established a fund to help the victims’ families. The address is: River Valley Bank, c/o Victims Family Fund, 327 N 17th Ave, Wausau, WI 54401.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Officer Weiland Was a Veteran Officer Devoted to the Green Bay Packers & His Family
This American hero, Jason Weiland, died on Mar 22 serving you. @ODMP @OfficerDown1199 @FallenOfficers1
According to DOJ, Weiland “spent 18 years in law enforcement, all of them in the Wausau-area, the last 15 with the Everest Metropolitan Police Department. Detective Weiland was well-trained and his brave response likely prevented other deaths.”
DOJ says the officer “is survived by his wife and two children. Jason, a devoted Green Bay Packers fan, was 40-years-old.”
Fox 6 reports that, according to a witness, Weiland was shot after arriving at an apartment complex to pursue the suspect.
Weiland’s LinkedIn page says that he was a detective with the Everest Metropolitan Police Department for the past five years. Before that, he served as a Patrolman/Field Training Officer/Patrol Corporal/Detective. He was a member of the Marathon County Sheriff’s Department working narcotics for more than two years. He also previously worked as a funeral home assistant. He was a 1998 graduate of North Central Technical College.
A memorial fund for the Weiland family was set up through Intercity State Bank, 2900 Schofield Ave., Weston, WI 54476. Donations to help the Weiland family can be sent to Intercity State Bank under the name of “Weiland Memorial Fund,” says DOJ.
2. Look Was a Bank Branch Manager Who Had Just Celebrated Her 25th Wedding Anniversary
Look “grew up in many places, but she called Wisconsin home,” said DOJ.
“A graduate of DC Everest High School, Dianne was the loving mother to two children, Christy Bleu and Chuck Mientke,” the release said. “Dianne will be remembered as a loyal employee of Marathon Savings Bank, where she has been a branch manager since 1998. Dianne valued the customer relationship and loved to serve her customers and neighbors.”
Look and her husband, Robert Look, met while she was working at a local bank in 1988, said DOJ.
“The two married in 1992 and lived in South Dakota for a number of years before returning to Wisconsin in 1998. They have resided in Wisconsin since. Dianne and Robert celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary this past Valentine’s Day. Dianne was 67-years-old,” said DOJ.
3. Barclay Was a Bank Employee Called ‘Mum Mum’ By Her Granddaughters
The other bank employee killed, Karen Barclay, was described as a mother and grandmother.
“Barclay moved to Wisconsin in 1993 and was employed at Marathon Savings Bank for more than five years. She was a loving mother to one daughter and two granddaughters, ages four and seven,” said DOJ.
According to the Justice press release, Barclay “will always be remembered as ‘mum mum’ by her granddaughters. Karen was extremely dedicated to her work. She loved her holidays, co-workers, and spending time with family. Karen was 62-years-old.”
Her former husband said “Pleasant to everybody she met. Didn’t have a mean bone in her body,” according to The Associated Press.
4. Quirt Sann Was a Yoga & Dog Loving Lawyer Whose Husband Says She Fought For Those Who Needed Representation
Quirt Sann was a life-long resident of Wausau, Wisconsin, according to DOJ. She graduated in 1999 from Valparaiso Law School, according to the Wisconsin State Bar. She received a journalism degree in 1996 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, according to her LinkedIn profile, and previously worked at Quirt Family Dentistry before opening her own law firm.
Court records show she was representing Vang’s wife, Naly, in a contentious divorce action that was still open. Nengmy Vang was the petitioner in the case.
The Wausau Daily Herald also reported that Quirt Sann was representing a woman in divorce proceedings who was linked to the suspect.
Robyn J. De Vos, president of the Marathon County Bar Association said in a statement, “Our Marathon County legal community is shaken to its core by this senseless act of violence that killed our dear friend and colleague. Sara was a smart, compassionate attorney who exuded a quiet confidence and, as a guardian ad litem, strove to understand the real struggles families face. She was a kind, beautiful person. We will never be the same.”
“She was a loving wife, daughter, sister, stepmom, aunt, friend, and a community servant. Sara loved golf, yoga, practicing law, and her dog, Mary. Sara was 43-years-old,” DOJ said.
Sara’s husband, Scott, manager at a country club, posted a lengthy post on Facebook that said:
I would like to thank all of you that have reached out in this difficult time. I cannot express the gratitude for the many kind words. Yesterday we lost a wife, a daughter, a sister, a stepmom, an aunt, a friend and a community servant. I have never been a fan of social media, however Sara was fully engaged. I feel obligated to reach out to the many friends she had. Had it not been her, she would’ve been sending kind regards to any one of you.
To fully respect Sara’s death it is important to know a few things. She was an avid watcher of the news. A majority of Sara’s family and I ask you to be the bigger people in this situation. They say “The Devil is in the details”. Do not get caught up in colors and politics. This person could’ve been any gender, any color, any religion and they could’ve acted in other ways of violence to make their point. Don’t get trapped in the details.
I am asking you to read Ephesians 6 versus 10-20. I spoke with Sara about this passage years ago. She had to put her armor on every day and fight for those who needed representation. She often had to make a ‘no win’ decision daily for the children that she represented. She would often question her decisions with me. She would often share her sorrow of not being appreciated by either party. Make no doubt in your mind that she was a warrior. She wore her armor and fought hard many days thanklessly. Please appreciate her like I do. She was indeed a hero. I love Marvel stories of super powers and maybe that’s why I loved her.
I am asking all of you to put on your armor tonight and in the following days. There is no doubt that evil is present every day and right in front of us. We can choose to give into hate and anger by listening to the details. Please remove any anger driven posts. Post something that you loved about her. Post a picture that I may have never seen. I have access only to view your posts on her iPad. Your encouragement is giving me faith. Know that my armor is polished and on to do battle in the name of righteousness. Come together with me a community and find healing and strength together.
Sara and I did a lot of fun things together. We lived life fully. We could’ve lived more. I am thankful for the time I had. Continue to keep us in your prayers.
5. The Shooting Spree Started in a Bank & Spread Throughout the City
Several squad cars & law enforcement personnel still at the Aspen apartments following the shooting spree near Wausau yesterday @WJFW12
According to the DOJ, at about 1:30 p.m. on March 22, authorities “received a report of an active shooter in Rothschild, Wisconsin.”
“The suspect visited the Marathon Savings Bank, killing two civilians, and a law office in Schofield, killing one civilian. The suspect ended this violent spree by barricading himself in an apartment in Weston, Wisconsin. After a few hours of negotiation, the suspect exchanged gun fire with responding officers and was injured,” said the DOJ release.
The suspect “was motivated by a domestic incident, not a bank robbery,” said DOJ.