Controversy Grows Over Superior Police Shooting as Family Disputes Official Account

Tensions are mounting in Superior, Wisconsin, as conflicting narratives emerge following the fatal police shooting of David Menton on April 7. The Superior Police Department has pushed back against what they call “misinformation” on social media, while the victim’s family and eyewitnesses are challenging the official version of events.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ), which is leading the investigation, reports that the incident occurred just before 10 p.m. on Oakes Avenue when a Superior police officer approached three individuals, including a wanted person. According to investigators, Menton attempted to flee, leading to a physical altercation that resulted in an officer being injured before the officer discharged their weapon.

Menton, 42, was pronounced dead at the scene, leaving his family devastated and demanding answers.

“I want to see everything that happened. I want to feel what was going through his head,” said Nathan Menton, the victim’s brother, during a protest held Monday at the Douglas County Courthouse where family and supporters gathered to call for justice.

Superior Police Chief Paul Winterscheidt released a statement Monday night, saying he has shared what he could “responsibly” provide while the investigation continues. He emphasized that the department remains cooperative with DOJ investigators and committed to transparency, noting that unreleased body camera footage shows officers attempted life-saving measures after the shooting.

However, this claim is directly disputed by two eyewitnesses who spoke with Northern News Now. The witnesses, who say they were present during the incident, insist their observations contradict key elements of the official narrative.

One eyewitness, identified as Autumn Khalar, a friend of Menton, provided a starkly different account: “The police officer got out of his vehicle and started running at David, he pushed the door open. He grabbed David and threw him on the ground outside.”

While eyewitnesses acknowledge that Menton initially ran and resisted the officer, they claim he was pinned on his stomach throughout the encounter. “I was standing like two feet away, and it looked like it was over. I expected handcuffs to be put on next, but instead of that, I hear a gunshot,” Khalar recounted.

Another point of contention revolves around a firearm authorities say was recovered from the scene. The Superior Police Department released a photo of the alleged weapon on Monday, but Khalar adamantly denies Menton was armed. “He didn’t have a weapon on him, he wasn’t going for a weapon,” she stated.

Both witnesses told Northern News Now they were temporarily detained after the incident and later released without charges or answers. They believe the unreleased body camera footage could provide crucial clarity in resolving the discrepancies between their account and the official narrative.

The incident has reopened discussions about police use of force in the community and raised questions about transparency in law enforcement investigations. Police shootings nationwide have faced increasing scrutiny in recent years, with body camera footage often proving critical in determining the facts surrounding disputed encounters.

According to Chief Winterscheidt, the department follows a strict timeline for releasing information, and additional images and video will be made public when doing so “will not compromise the integrity of any ongoing investigation.” The officer involved has been placed on paid administrative leave, standard procedure in such cases.

Northern News Now has reportedly made multiple requests to the DOJ for comment on the eyewitness claims and access to the body camera footage but has not received a response.

As the investigation continues, Menton’s family and the wider community remain in a painful state of uncertainty, waiting for more information that might explain how a confrontation on Oakes Avenue ended in tragedy.