FOND DU LAC, Wis. (WTAQ) - Police in Fond du Lac say one officer is dead following a stand off Sunday on the city's west side.
Police Chief Tony Barthuly confirmed the death of 28-year-old Craig Birkholz, who was also a veteran, at a press conference. Barthuly says that Birkholz was shot in the upper chest and, "the loss of an officer is his biggest nightmare."
Birkholz, who died at the scene, served with the department for 2 years and leaves behind a wife and family.
Fond du Lac Police Deputy Chief Kevin Lemke said K-9 officer Ryan Williams was shot twice in the chest and is in critical condition.
Barthuly said Williams likely would have died had he not been wearing a protective vest.
Williams underwent surgery at Theda Clark Hospital in Neenah.
A 30-year-old gunman, indentified as James Cruckson, was found dead inside his home at 24 South Lincoln Avenue from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a nearly six hour stand off.
Officers from several departments and a SWAT team reportedly deployed gas into the home nearly 45 minutes before entering around noon Sunday.
Police initially went to the home around 6:30 a.m. to investigate a sexual assault. Cruckson began opening fire shortly after cops arrived.
Police said Cruckson's sister was in the house at the time. It wasn't immediately clear whether she was injured during the standoff.
After the initial shots a SWAT team and several other agencies came to help. For six hours, police staked out the house on Lincoln Avenue. At one point before 9:00 a.m. gunfire could again be heard in the neighborhood.
"There was a woman also inside the residence (where the shots were fired) that we did assist," said Lemke.
Police say they don't know exactly who the woman is, but they do say she is safe.
"One of our main concerns at the scene this morning when officers arrived was to check the welfare of a 6-year-old girl that we believed was in the residence," said Lemke.
Officials say that girl wasn't there, but at a residence nearby and also safe. Neighbors near the commotion were also evacuated with armored vehicles and shields as officials tried to end the standoff.
Also injured in the incident was Officer Zach Schultz, reportedly injured on a stairwell. He was treated and released.
Police say Cruckson had a criminal history but wouldn't go into specifics.
Police could not say whether any officers returned fire on Cruckson, citing the ongoing investigation.
In a statement, police said the Wisconsin Department of Justice has 22 agents investigating.
Gov. Scott Walker said in a statement Sunday, Birkholz "made the ultimate sacrifice laying down his life while serving his community." Walker went on to say, "While we may not have the words to comfort his loved ones, we assure them that Officer Birkholz's state and community are eternally grateful for his heroic service."