Families of Wis. shooting sue for damages

CRANDON, Wis., Feb. 5 (UPI) -- The families of the victims of an October shooting that killed the gunman and seven others have sued Wisconsin officials for negligence and damages.

All but one of the families of the victims of part-time Forest County Sheriff's deputy and Crandon police officer Tyler Peterson, 20, accused city and county officials of being "negligent in their hiring and supervision of Tyler Peterson," the Appleton (Wis.) Post-Crescent said Tuesday.

Peterson opened fire following an argument at his ex-girlfriend's house and later took his own life during a shootout with police. The families claim his hiring by the law enforcement agencies resulted in the wrongful death of the victims.

The suit names Crandon City Clerk Cindy Bradley, Police Chief John Dennee, Forest County Clerk Ann Mihalko and Sheriff Keith Van Cleve.

The lawyer for the families claims the negligence resulted in millions of dollar in loss for the families and the estates of the victims.

Damages range from $350,000 to $500,000 each in lost wages and emotional trauma.