Suspect Identified in Weekend Shooting at Deputy’s Home
Charles Jameson (Courtesy Portage Co. Sheriff’s Office)
By Brandi Makuski
Officials have announced the identity of the victim in a fatal shooting which took place inside the home of a Portage County sheriff’s deputy.
Charles W. Jameson, 30 of Stevens Point, was killed after breaking into the home of Deputy Anthony Gischia early Saturday morning.
According to a statement from the Plover Police Department, Jameson, who was wearing a mask, entered the home illegally and poured “an accelerant” around the home. Authorities offered no explanation as to Jameson’s motives, but according to court documents Gischia’s fiance is scheduled to testify in an upcoming court case where Jameson is listed as a defendant.
Gischia had arrived home with his fiance early Saturday to find Jameson in the home and a struggle ensured between the men. At one point Gischia was forced to fire his weapon at Jameson, killing him. Police responded to the residence at 1:02 AM.
Police later found Jameson’s vehicle parked north of the Gischa home on Easlan Drive.
Information pertaining to whether or not Gischia will face charges- and whether he used his service weapon or a personal firearm- has not been released.
Portage Co. Coroner Scott Rifleman accompanied Jameson’s body to Madison on Saturday for an autopsy. The official cause of death has not yet released.
The Portage Co. Sheriff’s Office says it won’t be participating in the investigation, according to an official statement made by Chief Deputy Dan Kontos.
“Per our policy we are stepping back from the investigation and letting the folks at Department of Justice handle the investigation, something they do very well,” Kontos said Saturday. “But we’ll be doing everything we can to support Deputy Gischia through this difficult time.”
Kontos added the Sheriff’s Office would begin an internal administrative investigation on Monday. He said Gischia was not seriously injured during the struggle.
Jameson has a criminal record reaching back nearly a decade. According to court documents, he was last arrested in January on charges of fraudulently obtaining prescription drugs and felony bail jumping.