In the early morning hours of October 7, 2007, a gathering of young friends at a duplex in Crandon, Wisconsin, turned into a scene of unimaginable horror. Bradley Steven Schultz, a 20-year-old White/Caucasian male, was among those present at the post-homecoming party. A 2005 graduate of Crandon High School, Bradley was attending the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with aspirations of a career in criminal justice.
He was home for the weekend to visit with friends.
The party was tragically interrupted by the arrival of 20-year-old Tyler James Peterson, an off-duty Forest County sheriff's deputy and part-time Crandon police officer. Peterson had recently broken up with 18-year-old Jordanne Michele Murray, who was also at the party. After a dispute, Peterson left the residence, only to return armed with a rifle. He forced his way back into the duplex and opened fire, systematically shooting the occupants.
In the ensuing chaos, Bradley Steven Schultz was fatally wounded. He was one of six people killed by Peterson that morning. The other victims were Aaron Smith, 20; Jordanne Michele Murray, 18; Katrina McCorkle, 17; Lianna Thomas, 17; and Lindsey Stahl, 14. There was one survivor who was critically injured but managed to survive by feigning death. Some accounts from family members suggest that Bradley may have been trying to shield one of the other victims when he was shot.
After the shooting, Peterson fled the scene, leading to a manhunt. He was later located at a friend's cabin in the town of Argonne. Following a standoff with law enforcement, Peterson ultimately took his own life. The investigation concluded that Peterson acted alone, with the motive believed to be related to his breakup with Jordanne Murray. The tragic event deeply shook the small community of Crandon, leaving multiple families to mourn the sudden and violent loss of their loved ones.
