NEW HOPE − A 35-year-old man is in custody in connection with the deaths of a husband and wife Sunday in Portage County.
At 8:48 p.m. July 6, a caller requested a welfare check at a home in the town of New Hope, about 16 miles east of Stevens Point. When Portage County deputies arrived, they found 53-year-old Dale S. Shulfer dead in the front yard of the property, according to a news release from the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies blocked off an area around the property and a 35-year-old man with a weapon exited the back of the home, failed to comply with verbal commands and was shot by a deputy, according to the news release. The man was treated at the scene and then flown to a local hospital with serious injuries.
Deputies then entered the home and found 52-year-old Paula L. Shulfer dead inside. The preliminary investigation indicates both victims, who lived at the town of New Hope home, died from gunshot wounds, according to the news release.
Two children were found unharmed inside the home. They were released to a family member, according to the release.
The 35-year-old man, who also resided at the home, has been arrested and the Portage County district attorney’s office will review the case at the end of the investigation to determine charges, according to the release. The Stevens Point Journal does not name individuals suspected of crimes until they have been charged in court.
The deputy who shot the 35-year-old man is a 13-year veteran of the Portage County Sheriff’s Office. He was placed on administrative duty while the investigation takes place, according to an earlier release.The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office is leading the death investigations, and the Wood County Sheriff’s Office is handling the officer-involved shooting investigation, according to the release.
Contact Karen Madden kmadden@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @KMadden715, Instagram @kmadden715 or Facebook at www.facebook.com/karen.madden.33.
This article originally appeared on Stevens Point Journal: Victims of Portage County shooting identified as Dave & Paula Shulfer