WYOCENA, Wis. — Columbia County deputies arrested a 19-year-old Pardeeville man for attempted homicide after he reportedly took out a pistol during a fight Wednesday.
Officials were sent to the Pardeeville Road Wildlife Area in the township of Wyocena for a report of an altercation at 5 p.m.
The caller told officials she and her boyfriend met up with two males to buy marijuana when the drug deal “turned into a rip off.” A news release said a fight eventually broke out and a pocketknife, BB gun and 9mm pistol were brandished.
Columbia County Sheriff Roger Brandner said one of the two suspects attacked the caller’s boyfriend by hitting him in the face with a handgun. When the victims tried leaving the wildlife area, officials said the man with a pistol reportedly shot out the back window of their vehicle.
Deputies talked to witnesses at the scene and developed leads. The two suspects were later identified and taken into custody in Beaver Dam.
Lucas Szopinski, 19, of Pardeeville, was arrested for attempted first-degree homicide, battery, armed robbery and first-degree recklessly endangering safety.
A 16-year-old teen boy was also taken into custody for party to a crime of attempted first-degree intentional homicide, armed robbery and first-degree recklessly endangering safety. The teen’s name was not released.
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office received help from the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office, Beaver Dam Police Department and Blystone’s Towing.
Both firearms and the pocketknife used in the incident were later recovered. The incident remains under investigation.
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