Alexander W. Wuorenma, Dante L. Smith
RICE LAKE, WI (WSAU-WAOW) – Two men are under arrest after reports of gunshots in Rice Lake. Police say the men planned the incident as a hoax, modifying their vehicle to make it sound like gunshots.
The Barron County District Attorney’s Office has filed a criminal complaint, charging Alexander W. Wuorenma, 21, with three counts of disorderly conduct. Another person, Dante L. Smith, 20, is charged with three counts of disorderly conduct, as a party to a crime.
The Rice Lake Police Department received a 911 call around 6:30pm Thursday of an active shooting incident taking place near Walmart. When multiple agencies arrived they found no evidence suggesting that a shooting had taken place.
They continued to search the area when more reports of gunshots being fired from a moving vehicle were reported near Rice Lake Middle School. They found no evidence of a shooting there as well. It was then they were able to get a report of what the vehicle looked like. A short time later, another report of gunshots came in at T-Mobile. The vehicle was then stopped by multiple officers and two people were arrested.
No firearms were found.
Barron County D.A. Brian Wright said, “The charges of disorderly conduct against both defendants do not diminish the public panic and fear the men, women, and children who were going about their normal activities experienced on the evening of September 19, 2024.”
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