TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
According to a press release from the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), at approximately 6:33 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call for a subject with a knife in a residence on Shady Lane Avenue in the Town of Pine River.
“Law enforcement entered the residence, encountered the armed subject and discharged their firearm, striking the subject,” the release said.
Despite law enforcement administering lifesaving efforts, and EMS doing the same upon arrival, the person died at the scene. While the person’s name was not released by law enforcement, family members have come forward to confirm the deceased to be 28-year-old John “Amoo” Za Moua of the Town of Pine River, Moua had listed the residence, in which the critical incident took place, as his address in 2019 court documents.
No law enforcement personnel were injured during the incident.
Officers involved in the incident have been placed on administrative assignment, which is standard department policy for an officer-involved death incident.
DCI will lead an investigation, which is also standard protocol, assisted by the Wisconsin State Patrol, Marathon County Sheriff’s Department, Merrill Police Department, the Wausau Police Department, and the DOJ Office of Crime Victim Services. All involved law enforcement are fully cooperating with DCI during this investigation, the release stated.
DCI is reviewing evidence and determining the facts of this incident and will turn over investigative reports to the Lincoln County District Attorney when the investigation concludes.