The results of an investigation into a fatal police shooting in Wausau indicate that the victim was fully aware of the consequences of his actions and expected to be killed. Marathon County District Attorney Kenneth Heimerman has decided that Wausau Police Officer James Martin only acted in self-defense when he fired five shots at Oswald Mattner on April 30th. No charges will be issued against Martin.
An eyewitness said that Mattner ignored five warnings from Martin to drop the knife he was wielding before Martin fired.
Mattner had been fleeing from police after a domestic disturbance call. Text messages between Mattner and his girlfriend, who called the police, indicated that he was intent on attacking police if she called them, and once he realized that she had, he said, “[I’m] stabbing till [they] kill me, I want [you] to know I love you. Goodbye”.
Wausau Police Chief Jeff Hardel said that the department was fully supportive of Martin and his decisions in the situation. Martin was employed by the Wausau PD for seventeen months prior to the fatal encounter with Mattner.
WSAU