Douglas A. German, aged 32, tragically lost his life on July 28, 2019, in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. His death was part of a horrific shooting spree carried out by his brother, Ritchie German Jr. The incident began on the night of July 26 or early the following morning when Ritchie German Jr. fatally shot his 66-year-old mother, Bridget German, five times in the head at her Lafayette townhome.
Douglas German and his 8-year-old nephew, Calvin Harris, were each struck twice by gunfire.
The bodies of Douglas, Bridget, and Calvin were discovered early Monday morning when deputies arrived at the home to inform the family that Ritchie German Jr. had fatally shot a 24-year-old woman, Laile Vang, in Lake Hallie and injured her parents before killing himself late Sunday night. The autopsy reports confirmed that Ritchie German Jr. used a revolver to kill his relatives and a shotgun to kill Laile Vang and himself.
The Chippewa County Sheriff's Office identified Ritchie German Jr. as the perpetrator of this tragic event. He killed his mother, brother, and nephew before driving nine miles to Lake Hallie, where he killed Laile Vang and injured her parents. The investigation revealed that each of the victims had a single gunshot wound to the head. Despite extensive investigations, the authorities were unable to determine a clear motive for the murders.
The incident drew comparisons to the kidnapping of Barron teenager Jayme Closs and the murder of her parents, as both cases involved a similar mode of operation. The authorities continued to investigate Ritchie German Jr.'s background and living arrangements, as it appeared he only stayed with his mother intermittently. The tragic events left the community in shock and mourning, as they grappled with the senseless loss of life.
