Majority of info from camera surveillance, not witnesses

By Brandi Makuski

Stevens Point police say witnesses to a reported shooting at a downtown bar are being less than cooperative.

According to Assistant Chief Tom Zenner, witnesses say about 150 people were in attendance for a private wedding celebrating at Rockie’s Bar, 929 Main St. — the former home of Heritage Pub — when a physical altercation escalated into a shooting incident.

A suspect who witnesses would only describe as an “Asian male” fired at least five gunshots into the ceiling from a .40 handgun. No shots were fired at people, and there were no reported injuries, Zenner said.

More than a dozen law enforcement officers from the city, Plover PD and the Portage Co. Sheriff’s Office responded within two minutes, according to Sgt. Greg Bean, but the suspect and several witnesses had already fled.

Zenner said investigators have “experienced minimal cooperation from individuals in attendance of the private party,” adding many in attendance reportedly were visiting the area from outside locations like Milwaukee, Madison, Minnesota and California.

The majority of the information police have, Zenner said, is based only from a surveillance camera located inside the bar, and some city-owned cameras on the street outside.

“There is a certain level of frustration on the part of the investigators from the lack of information,” Zenner said.

One person at the bar was taken to the Stevens Point Police Dept. for questioning on Saturday night, Zenner said, along with three others from a car which reportedly left the scene immediately following the shooting. Those three individuals were found near Main St. and Country Club Dr., Zenner said.

Zenner said as of Monday, three handguns — all loaded — had been recovered during the course of the investigation. One of those guns was located on the floor of Rockies Bar, another was confiscated during a traffic stop associated with a search for suspects.

The third gun was found “outside the building by some bushes,” Zenner said. “None appear to have been the weapon discharged in the establishment.”

Police believe the shooting was an isolated incident and the public is not in danger, Zenner added.

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