Middleton dealership employee dies in shooting over vehicle sale

One man is dead after a customer at a Middleton auto dealership shot one of its employees over a previous vehicle purchase, the Middleton Police Dept. revealed
Published: Mar. 21, 2023 at 9:15 AM CDT

MIDDLETON, Wis. (WMTV) – One man is dead after a customer at a Middleton auto dealership shot one of its employees over a previous vehicle purchase, the Middleton Police Dept. revealed Tuesday morning.

The police department is now investigating the man’s death as a homicide and has taken a 23-year-old Fitchburg woman into custody. The suspect, Jakira Anderson, has been booked on a count of first-degree intentional homicide, the police statement said.

According to police, they found the victim, whose name has not been released, when officers responded to a disturbance at MSI Auto Sales, in the 3000 block of Parmenter Street, shortly after 1:30 p.m. on Monday.

The victim’s friends and family confirmed with NBC15 News that he was an employee at MSI Auto, but did not feel comfortable going on camera as of Tuesday.

Anderson was found in Madison about two hours later and arrested.

Jakira Anderson, 23, was arrested on a first-degree intentional homicide count after a shooting involving an employee at a Middleton auto dealership.(Dane Co. Sheriff's Office)

Middleton Police Chief Troy Hellenbrand explained during a Monday afternoon news conference that investigators considered the shooting an isolated incident and they do not believe there is a threat to the greater community.

O’Connell’s Good Neighbor Liquor store is located across the street from MSI Auto. Bill O’Connell owns the store and said he arrived at his business 30 minutes after the shooting happened.

He noticed the police immediately, but aside from parts of Parmenter Street being closed off, the shooting did not impact his business.

”We feel very safe and confident that the police will take care of any problems that we have in the future and now,” O’Connell said.

The investigation into the shooting is still underway. The police department is asking anyone with information to contact them at 608-824-7300 or Madison Crime Stoppers at 608-266-6014. Tips can also be left online at P3Tips.com.

Multiple units respond to Middleton's Parmenter Street.(NBC15)

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