Witnesses in disbelief over gas station shootings: 'Things like this just don't happen in Franksville'

FRANKSVILLE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- People who were just starting their day described chaotic scenes at two Racine County gas stations after a suspect opened fire, killing one man and injuring an undercover investigator from the Racine County Sheriff's Office.

Witnesses told CBS 58 they saw officers with assault rifles and heard multiple shots that sounded like fireworks at the Mobil gas station in Franksville.

At 7:40 a.m. on Tuesday, July 13, Jeremy Werner was having breakfast across the street from the Mobil gas station when he heard a commotion outside.

"Next thing you know (there were) all kinds of police officers and police vehicles on site -- guns drawn," Werner said.

He started streaming on Facebook Live to warn people to stay away from the area.

Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling said an undercover investigator from the department was pumping gas when the suspect, a 32-year-old man from Hartland, approached the investigator and began to shoot at him at close range. The investigator and suspect shot at each other. Both were hit.

The suspect died from his injuries. The investigator was taken to Ascension Hospital in Racine.

"I've lived here my whole life, and things like this just don't happen in Franksville. Franksville's really quiet and everybody knows everybody. And I'm thinking hopefully it's not somebody I know," Werner said.

The incident all began at the Pilot Travel Stop in Caledonia a few miles away. Schmaling said the suspect "viciously executed" a 22-year-old man from Elkhorn and shot at another person who was unharmed.

Bud Hayes passed the scene on his way to work at the business he owns, Klema Feeds, Inc., which is near the Mobil gas station.

"(Officers) put police tape up around the whole entire Pilot ... There was somebody laying in the parking lot. I don't know what happened but it was more than I needed to see," Hayes said.