CRIME

Marinette County deputies cleared in shooting death of Milwaukee man in Goodman homicide

Green Bay Press-Gazette

MARINETTE – The Marinette County district attorney cleared five deputies Tuesday in the shooting death of a Milwaukee man who shot and killed another man in Goodman last month.

Marinette County District Attorney DeShea Morrow said in a statement the actions of the deputies were justified Oct. 23 when they shot and killed John Lipski, 62, of Milwaukee. Morrow made the decision following an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation.

“The evidence clearly shows that the officers acted appropriately and in accordance with their professional training and proper legal standards in responding to the threat of deadly force being used against them,” Morrow said.

Five members of the Marinette County Sheriff's Office were involved in the shooting and placed on administrative assignment. They were Lt. Barry Degnitz and deputies Jesse Parker, Patrick Callahan, Dave Oginski and Steve Schmidt.

Deputies responded around 5 p.m. Oct. 23 to a home in Goodman for a report of a possible homicide, according to the DOJ. A man told the dispatcher he killed his best friend. He also said multiple times if police came, he would shoot them.

Deputies found the body of Richard Gibbs, 62, of Milwaukee, in the home.

Officials said Lipski drove away from the home as deputies arrived. Deputies followed Lipski and he eventually stopped, got out of his vehicle and pointed a gun at deputies, according to the DOJ. Officials said deputies shot Lipski, and he died at the scene.

Officials said Lipski shot Gibbs, and the men knew each other.