A Janesville teacher and coach who was being investigated by police ended his own life, purchasing a handgun and ammunition after speaking with investigators. The Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office said 30-year-old Justin A. Long died as the result of a self-inflicted firearm injury.
“It took 25 minutes for Mr. Long to leave the threshold of the Janesville Police Department and arm himself with a 9 millimeter handgun and ammunition,” Police Chief Dave Moore said.
Moore said family members called police Saturday after finding notes and receipts for the handgun purchased by Long. Officers conducted a high risk traffic stop later that night. Moore said that’s when Long shot himself.
“It was our intent to order Mr. Long back to the squads, both for his safety and for our safety and the citizens safety in the area. At that point the officers heard a shot and observed the driver’s side window blown out.”
Long was under investigation for inappropriate contact with female students. Police said he had gone to the Janesville Police Department on Saturday and admitted to kissing a student.
“He asked questions that were forward thinking,” Moore said. “In terms of ‘will I be arrested, what happens then, and should I tell the school.'”
Long was a middle school special education teacher and tennis coach at Janesville high schools. “We are interested in any additional victims that may have had inappropriate contact with Mr. Long, and we hope to work with the Janesville School District to provide help to those victims,” Moore said.
WIBA