In the early morning hours of October 7, 2007, a post-homecoming gathering in the small town of Crandon, Wisconsin, turned into a scene of unimaginable horror. Among the young lives tragically cut short was that of 17-year-old Lianna Faye Thomas, a White female. The celebration, held in a duplex apartment, was shattered when 20-year-old Tyler James Peterson, an off-duty Forest County sheriff's deputy and part-time Crandon police officer, carried out a deadly mass shooting.
The motive for
the rampage was reportedly a dispute with his 18-year-old ex-girlfriend, Jordanne Michele Murray, who was also at the party. After an argument, Peterson left the residence and returned with an AR-15 style rifle and a Glock 22. He forced his way back into the apartment and systematically opened fire, killing six individuals and critically injuring another. The victims were all students or recent graduates of Crandon High School. Besides Lianna and Jordanne, the other deceased were Aaron Smith, 20; Bradley Schultz, 20; Katrina McCorkle, 17; and Lindsey Stahl, 14.
Following the shooting, Peterson fled the scene, leading to a manhunt. He was later located at a friend's cabin in Argonne, about seven miles north of Crandon. After a standoff with authorities, Peterson died by suicide. Initial reports were conflicting, with some suggesting he was killed by a police sniper, but it was later determined that he shot himself multiple times. The perpetrator's death meant there would be no arrests or a trial for the killings.
The small community of Crandon was left reeling in the wake of the tragedy, mourning the loss of so many young people. Lianna Faye Thomas was remembered as a lover of music and animals, with aspirations of attending college to major in music after her high school graduation. The incident prompted discussions about gun violence and the screening process for law enforcement officers. The house where the murders occurred was eventually demolished in June 2008.
