Police Announce Arrest of Murder Suspect

By Brandi Makuski
Stevens Point Police on Friday have announced the suspect in the city’s St. Patrick’s Day shooting has been found.
Kyle Engen, 30, was arrested on a probation violation in Granby, Colo. around 5:30 PM on Thursday by U.S. Marshals and local law enforcement.
Engen is the suspect in the shooting death of 21-year-old Deonte Lezine. Police say the shooting occurred during a suspect drug deal on Fifth Ave. on March 17. Lezine was later found by emergency crews at Berg Gym on the UWSP campus and taken to an undisclosed trauma center, where he remained on life support until he died on March 25.
The investigation is still ongoing. Assistant Chief Tony Babl said more information would be released “when appropriate”.
According to Ski-Hi News in Granby, the Middle Park Emergency Response Team responded after U.S. Marshalls had located Engen sitting in a motor vehicle somewhere in Granby. No one was injured during the arrest, , the news outlet reported.
Engen was then taken to Grand County Jail to await extradition proceedings to Wisconsin.
Timeline of Events
Mar. 17
7:48 PM: A caller dials 911 to report possible gunshots on the 200 block of Minnesota Ave.
8:57 PM: A City Times reader calls the newsroom asking for details on something happening at Berg Gym.
9:50 PM: A City Times reporter is the only media to arrive at Minnesota and Fifth. The reporter observed police blockades on Minnesota Ave. between Fifth Ave. and Maria Dr.; officers are seen searching the exterior of an apartment complex with flashlights, with at least one officer returning to his squad carrying a brown paper bag
10:28 PM: Police Chief Marty Skibba emails a news release notifying media of a “substantial injury” after “reports of possible gunshots” on the 200 block of Minnesota; police confirmed the incident actually occurred on the 2700 block of Fifth Ave. and the victim, identified only as a 21-year-old man, was found at Berg Gym on the UW-Stevens Point campus.
10:30 PM (approx.): Students at UWSP are notified in a mass email of the incident, confirming the incident was a shooting and UWSP Protective Services were assisting police.
10:40 PM (approx): Police Chief Marty Skibba holds an impromptu press conference in the basement of the courthouse, reading from his prepared press release. No further information was released at that time.
Mar. 18
10 AM: A second news release from Skibba confirming the incident was indeed a shooting and likely drug-related, also assuring citizens the public was not in danger and the incident was isolated. No further information on the victims or shooter were released.
1:00 PM: A press conference is held on the UWSP campus by Chancellor Bernie Patterson. Asst. Chief Tony Babl attends and released the name of the gunshot victim, Deonta Lezine, 21. Patterson said Lezine was not currently enrolled as a student.
3:00 PM: Babl sends a press release to the media naming Lezine as the victim, again also stating the shooting was an isolated incident and saying no arrests had been made at that time.
Mar. 19
11:48 AM: Marshfield Police Dept. releases the suspect’s name and photo on its Facebook page without clearance from Stevens Point investigators. The suspect was identified as 30-year-old Kyle Engen of Dane County. The Facebook post included cell phone numbers for two of the city’s detectives.
1:56 PM: Babl issues a news release formally identifying Engen as a suspect, asking for the public’s help in locating him.
Mar. 19 (time unknown) Stevens Point investigators, working with law enforcement in Dane Co.., execute a search warrant at a residence in Marshall, Wis., where Engen was thought to be. He was not at the property at the time of the search.
Mar. 21
12:38 PM: Police announce a second shooting victim has come forward. The victim, whose wounds were characterized as “superficial”, had fled the city following the shooting on Mar. 17, seeking medical treatment in Racine. The man, identified only as a 20-year-old, returned to Stevens Point Sunday night and contacted police to make a statement.
Mar. 24
11:38 AM: Babl sends out a press release before the Easter weekend holiday with few updates. Police have received fewer tips from the public than expected, Babl said. While Lezine is still listed in critical condition at an undisclosed hospital, Babl said police “have had regular contact” with Portage Co. Coroner Scott Rifleman.
Mar. 25
9:30 PM: Friends and family of Deonte Lezine begin posting to “R.I.P.” messages to his Facebook page.
10:15 PM: Portage Co. Coroner Scott Rifleman declines comment when asked to confirm Lezine’s death.
Mar. 26
9:26 AM: Assistant Police Chief Tony Babl releases a statement from the SPPD confirming Lezine died at 8:45 PM on Mar. 25 but release no further details.
April 22
8:15 AM: Stevens Point police make first public statement in nearly a month on Lezine case in a press release announcing shooting suspect Kyle Engen has been taken into custody while sitting in a car in Granby, Colo. His extradition to Wisconsin is pending.