Portage County Sheriff Mike Lukas says said they received a 911 call at 10:52 a.m. on Thursday regarding about a possible shooting at a home on Division Street. Multiple reports started coming in that 55-year-old Larry Sanchez had shot and killed his estranged wife, 47-year-old Lisa Sanchez.
Multiple calls to Portage County dispatch gave conflicting reports as to where Sanchez had gone, forcing authorities to back off until the area around Lisa Sanchez could be secured. EMS crews then moved in and confirmed she was dead.
Deputies and police from multiple communities started a search for Sanchez, including several K9 units and an unmanned drone from the Plover Police department. Sanchez was eventually found inside his house and refused contact with officers at the scene. The Special Response Unit and negotiators were bought in to try and talk Sanchez out of the house. They eventually used tear gas and pepper spray to force Sanchez out, where he was arrested without further incident.
Sanchez is currently being held in the Portage County Jail on homicide charges. The Chief Deputy says Sanchez is believed to be the only suspect in the incident, and there is no longer any danger to the public.
The Portage County Sheriff’s had assistance at the scene from Stevens Point and Plover Police Departments, Wisconsin State Patrol, Portage County EMS, and the Bancroft-Pine Grove Fire and EMS Departments. They are still processing evidence with help from the Portage County Coroner’s Office and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Crime Lab.
WSAU