On a Thursday afternoon in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, the life of 23-year-old Michael Kirsch was abruptly cut short. On February 6, 2020, near the intersection of 10th and Clara Avenue, a dispute escalated into a fatal encounter. Kirsch was shot and succumbed to his injuries, leaving a community in shock over an act of violence that police described as an uncommon occurrence for the city. The incident was not a random act of violence; the individuals involved knew one another.
The tragic events of that afternoon began with a physical altercation between two teenage girls. According to Kirsch's girlfriend, her niece and another teenager, 17-year-old Adyson Wihm, were involved in a fight, shoving and throwing punches. Witnesses reported that Michael Kirsch stepped in to break up the fight. It was during his attempt to intervene that he was shot twice in the torso. He was not believed to have been an initial participant in the conflict but was trying to de-escalate the situation.
Following the shooting, Sheboygan police quickly identified two suspects. An 18-year-old male, Daniel Mares, was taken into custody on homicide-related charges, and Wihm was also arrested. When police apprehended Mares and Wihm, they discovered a handgun, marijuana, and several pills inside Wihm's backpack. The investigation led to formal charges being filed against both teenagers. Mares, the alleged gunman, faced charges of first-degree intentional homicide and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Wihm was charged with aiding a felon, disorderly conduct, and possession of THC. During questioning, Mares initially denied his involvement. However, when confronted with the discovery of the gun, he claimed to have acted in self-defense, stating that Kirsch had come at him with a knife. Kirsch's family remembered him as a protector, and his stepsister expressed her grief and anger that the alleged shooter, a convicted felon, had a gun in the first place. The community was left to mourn the loss of a young man who died while trying to be a peacemaker.
