VIROQUA, Wis – Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson is reporting a 49-year old man from Cuba City, Wis. is facing charges for allegedly firing a weapon from their vehicle while traveling on State Highway 14 near Viroqua on Friday night in what appears to be a road rage incident.
According to the report, Justice William Kelly, 49, of Cuba City was taken into custody at a Viroqua convenience store without incident after a call from a motorist reporting another motorist fired a weapon from their vehicle. The report states at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14, the Sheriff’s Office 911 Dispatch Center received a call from a motorist traveling on US Highway 14, near the intersection of State Highway 27, rural Viroqua in the Town of Franklin. The caller reported that while following another vehicle, that motorist discharged a firearm multiple times from their vehicle. The caller described the other vehicle, but was no longer following it.
The report goes on to say about five minutes after the initial call, the Sheriff’s Office received a second call from a motorist identified himself as 49-year-old Justice William Kelly. Kelly reported that another vehicle contacted the rear of his vehicle. The second caller was forthright about having a firearm or firearms in the vehicle and will wait at a convenience store on the south side of the City of Viroqua to file a report. Sheriff Torgerson later clarified that Kelly told investigators he fired the weapon in the air and not at another vehicle.
The Viroqua Police Department, including their dispatcher, immediately assisted the Sheriff’s
Office with the investigation ongoing at different locations. Evidence led investigators to
believe the two calls were associated. The report states there were children in both vehicles, and no injuries were reported.
Kelly cooperated with the investigation and a firearm was recovered from his vehicle. Justice Kelly was transported to the Sheriff’s Office Detention Center and booked on potential charges of Second Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety. Kelly is expected to appear in Vernon County Circuit Court on Monday. Formal charges will be sought through Vernon County District Attorney Angela Palmer-Fisher. A charge is merely an accusation. Kelly is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The Vernon County Department of Human Services Child Protective Services assisted, and the
children were released to a responsible person associated with them. A referral will be made
to Lafayette County Human Services, in Darlington, Wis. for any necessary follow-up or services.
Also assisting was the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident remains under investigation by the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office.
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