Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
Authorities were seeking a male suspect they believe fired a round from a 9 mm handgun during an apparent drug deal gone bad in Belle Plaine early Thursday.
No one was hurt in the incident, which took place outside Mickster’s bar shortly before 2:30 a.m., according to the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department.
“While the gunman is still at large, we believe this was a drug deal gone bad and that the general public is not at risk,” Sheriff Adam Bieber said in a Facebook posting.
Authorities have not released any information regarding the shooting suspect because his identity has not been confirmed, Lt. George Lenzner said.
Details about what happened were still being pieced together Thursday afternoon.
“We’re interviewing people right now,” Lenzner said. “There’s a lot of ‘he said, she said.’”
Information gathered so far indicates that the suspect fired a round at a vehicle that was leaving the scene after an altercation. He then pointed the gun at witnesses, telling them they were next, before also leaving the scene.
A 24-year-old New London man called authorities just after the incident at 2:27 a.m.
When deputies arrived they saw two people flee in a vehicle that was immediately pulled over.
The driver — a 21-year-old New London man — was charged with operating while intoxicated and taken into custody on a probation and parole hold, Lenzner said. He was also cited for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The man told deputies there had been an altercation earlier at Mickster’s.
The bar was closed at the time, but Lenzner said the parties involved had been in the bar earlier.
Authorities found a 9 mm shell casing at the scene.