Three of the four victims in the Wausau, Wisconsin shooting spree: Jason Weiland, Sara Quirt Sann, and Dianne Look. Karen Barclay also died in the spree. (Facebook)
The Wisconsin man accused of shooting four people to death in a domestic abuse rage has been identified as Nengmy Vang, according to multiple media reports.
The suspect – accused of slaying a veteran police officer in the spree – was named as Vang, 45, by The Green Bay Press Gazette and HBC Hmong Broadcasting Company in Minnesota. Court records show he was involved in an active divorce case in which his wife was represented by one of the victims, lawyer Sara Quirt Sann (pictured below).
The state Department of Justice identified the victims in a news release on March 23, but is officially withholding the name of the 45-year-old suspect, who is recovering in the hospital from non-fatal injuries. He is from the Town of Weston.
According to the DOJ, the victims were Officer Jason Weiland, bank employees Dianne Look and Karen Barclay, and Quirt Sann (pictured below). A photo of Barclay will be added to this story when one is obtained.
DOJ says the motive was domestic violence, although Vang’s wife was not physically harmed.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Quirt Sann Was Representing Vang’s Estranged Wife in a Contested Divorce Case
According to Wisconsin court records, the slain lawyer, Quirt Sann, was representing Naly Vang, Nengmy Vang’s estranged wife, in a contested divorce case.
Wisconsin Circuit Court Access shows that Nengmy Vang was the petitioner in a contentious divorce.
The records show the Vangs had a final pre-trial scheduled for April 28, 2017 and a contested divorce hearing scheduled for June 8. In October, court records show, a guardian ad litem was appointed in the high conflict divorce. The records say that Quirt Sann (known as Sara Quirt in court) had submitted a cover letter along with the petition for the GAL.
In September, Nengmy Vang complied with a parenting program. Mediation was attempted, but an “impasse” was reached, the court records say. The Wausau Daily Herald reports that the Vangs were married for two decades.
Quirt Sann was a life-long resident of Wausau, Wisconsin, according to DOJ. She graduated in 1999 from Valparaiso Law School, according to the Wisconsin State Bar.
The Wausau Daily Herald reported that Quirt Sann was representing a woman in divorce proceedings who was linked to the suspect.
“She was a loving wife, daughter, sister, stepmom, aunt, friend, and a community servant. Sara loved golf, yoga, practicing law, and her dog, Mary. Sara was 43-years-old,” DOJ said.
Sara’s husband, Scott, the manager at a country club, posted a lengthy post on Facebook that said:
I would like to thank all of you that have reached out in this difficult time. I cannot express the gratitude for the many kind words. Yesterday we lost a wife, a daughter, a sister, a stepmom, an aunt, a friend and a community servant. I have never been a fan of social media, however Sara was fully engaged. I feel obligated to reach out to the many friends she had. Had it not been her, she would’ve been sending kind regards to any one of you.
To fully respect Sara’s death it is important to know a few things. She was an avid watcher of the news. A majority of Sara’s family and I ask you to be the bigger people in this situation. They say “The Devil is in the details”. Do not get caught up in colors and politics. This person could’ve been any gender, any color, any religion and they could’ve acted in other ways of violence to make their point. Don’t get trapped in the details.
I am asking you to read Ephesians 6 versus 10-20. I spoke with Sara about this passage years ago. She had to put her armor on every day and fight for those who needed representation. She often had to make a ‘no win’ decision daily for the children that she represented. She would often question her decisions with me. She would often share her sorrow of not being appreciated by either party. Make no doubt in your mind that she was a warrior. She wore her armor and fought hard many days thanklessly. Please appreciate her like I do. She was indeed a hero. I love Marvel stories of super powers and maybe that’s why I loved her.
I am asking all of you to put on your armor tonight and in the following days. There is no doubt that evil is present every day and right in front of us. We can choose to give into hate and anger by listening to the details. Please remove any anger driven posts. Post something that you loved about her. Post a picture that I may have never seen. I have access only to view your posts on her iPad. Your encouragement is giving me faith. Know that my armor is polished and on to do battle in the name of righteousness. Come together with me a community and find healing and strength together.
Sara and I did a lot of fun things together. We lived life fully. We could’ve lived more. I am thankful for the time I had. Continue to keep us in your prayers.
2. The Shooting Spree Started in a Bank & Vang’s Wife Fled to a Nearby Subway Restaurant
According to the DOJ, at about 1:30 p.m. on March 22, authorities “received a report of an active shooter in Rothschild, Wisconsin.”
Scanner traffic shows that a woman was at a Subway restaurant “claiming her husband’s trying to kill her and her husband’s at the bank.” You can listen to the dispatch audio here:
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Several moments later, it’s reported that an officer is down. Scanner traffic shows that one of the shots was fired “from a rifle at a substantial distance.”
“The suspect visited the Marathon Savings Bank, killing two civilians, and a law office in Schofield, killing one civilian. The suspect ended this violent spree by barricading himself in an apartment in Weston, Wisconsin. After a few hours of negotiation, the suspect exchanged gun fire with responding officers and was injured,” said the DOJ release.
The suspect “was motivated by a domestic incident, not a bank robbery,” said DOJ.
3. Officer Weiland Was a Veteran Officer Devoted to the Green Bay Packers & Respected in the Community
According to DOJ, Weiland “spent 18 years in law enforcement, all of them in the Wausau-area, the last 15 with the Everest Metropolitan Police Department. Detective Weiland was well-trained and his brave response likely prevented other deaths.”
DOJ says the officer “is survived by his wife and two children. Jason, a devoted Green Bay Packers fan, was 40-years-old.”
Fox 6 reports that, according to a witness, Weiland was shot after arriving at an apartment complex to pursue the suspect, who had fled there after going to the bank and law firm.
A memorial fund for the Weiland family was set up through Intercity State Bank, 2900 Schofield Ave., Weston, WI 54476. Donations to help the Weiland family can be sent to Intercity State Bank under the name of “Weiland Memorial Fund,” says DOJ.
4. Look Was a Bank Branch Manager Who Had Just Celebrated Her 25th Wedding Anniversary
Look “grew up in many places, but she called Wisconsin home,” said DOJ.
“A graduate of DC Everest High School, Dianne was the loving mother to two children, Christy Bleu and Chuck Mientke,” the release said. “Dianne will be remembered as a loyal employee of Marathon Savings Bank, where she has been a branch manager since 1998. Dianne valued the customer relationship and loved to serve her customers and neighbors.”
Look and her husband, Robert Look, met while she was working at a local bank in 1988, said the DOJ.
“The two married in 1992 and lived in South Dakota for a number of years before returning to Wisconsin in 1998. They have resided in Wisconsin since. Dianne and Robert celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary this past Valentine’s Day. Dianne was 67-years-old,” said DOJ.
5. Barclay Was a Bank Employee Called ‘Mum Mum’ By Her Granddaughters
The other bank employee killed, Karen Barclay, was described as a mother and grandmother.
“Barclay moved to Wisconsin in 1993 and was employed at Marathon Savings Bank for more than five years. She was a loving mother to one daughter and two granddaughters, ages four and seven,” said DOJ.
According to the Justice press release, Barclay “will always be remembered as ‘mum mum’ by her granddaughters. Karen was extremely dedicated to her work. She loved her holidays, co-workers, and spending time with family. Karen was 62-years-old.”
Jessica McBride is a Heavy contributor. She was a crime, government, and breaking news reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and reporter for the Waukesha Freeman newspaper. Her award-winning work has appeared in numerous magazine, newspaper, and online publications. She has also appeared as a crime reporter on Investigation Discovery Channel, History Channel, and Oxygen Channel. She can be reached by email at jessica.mcbride@heavy.com.March 23, 2017 9:47 pm
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