On the evening of September 1, 2023, the life of Aaron Holmstrom, a 37-year-old Caucasian male, was cut short in the town of Siren, Wisconsin. The events unfolded at a residence where a confrontation led to his untimely death. That night, at approximately 8:32 p.m., the Burnett County Dispatch received a startling call. The caller, 18-year-old Ashton Heier, admitted that he had just shot another male.
Law enforcement and emergency services were immediately dispatched to the scene.
Upon arrival, Burnett County deputies and Siren police officers found Aaron Holmstrom with a gunshot wound. They, along with EMS personnel who arrived shortly after, performed life-saving measures, but their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful. Holmstrom was pronounced deceased at the residence. The suspect, Ashton Heier, was taken into custody at the scene without incident.
The investigation that followed shed more light on the circumstances leading to the fatal shooting. According to the criminal complaint, Heier stated that Holmstrom had been "yelling at him and cussing at him". Heier also claimed that Holmstrom was swinging a bat and had thrown something at him. This altercation escalated, culminating in the single gunshot that ended Holmstrom's life. The case was still under investigation for a period, with assistance from the Siren Police Department, St. Croix Tribal Police Department, North Ambulance, and the Burnett County Medical Examiner's Office.
Ashton Heier, a 19-year-old from Siren at the time of his sentencing, faced legal consequences for his actions. He was charged with homicide by negligent handling of a dangerous weapon/explosive and possession of a firearm by an adjudicated delinquent of a felony. On August 26, 2024, Heier was sentenced to seven years of initial confinement in state prison, which will be followed by ten years of extended supervision.
