14-year-old shot, killed by Wisconsin sheriff's deputy on Bad River Reservation

A 14-year-old boy was shot and killed by a sheriff's deputy in northern Wisconsin Wednesday morning.

At approximately 11:40 a.m., Ashland County sheriff’s office received a 911 call about a “male subject” walking around East Maple Street in Odanah carrying a knife. 

“At approximately 11:48, shots were fired by a responding deputy and the suspect was struck by gunfire,” according to a news release. 

He was taken to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The victim’s name is being withheld pending family notification. 

Ashland County Sheriff  Mick Brennan confirmed a knife was found on the scene. The deputy was not injured. 

The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating the fatal shooting. 

In a Facebook statement, the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Tribal Council offered their condolences to the family of the victim.

“This is an extremely hard day for everyone, in times like this the community must come together and help each other heal,” the statement read. “The Tribal Council would like the Bad River community to know that they are keeping abreast of the events and will release the information as it becomes available to them.” 

The group Native Lives Matter has organized a vigil for the victim on Thursday night. The vigil will take place at the Minneapolis American Indian Center at 6:30 p.m.