Background: News footage of the location in Sheboygan, Wis. where the alleged shooting occurred (WITI). Inset: Pao Lee (Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Office).
A Wisconsin man reportedly believed that a relative was involved in an affair with his wife, and allegedly armed himself with a gun when confronting him about it.
Authorities in Sheboygan apprehended 65-year-old Pao Lee on Friday in response to reports of a shooting occurring around 10:00 a.m. As per a criminal complaint obtained by the local Fox station WITI, police arrived at the scene to find Lee “restrained by individuals” and were informed by a witness that a 9 mm handgun was discarded near a tree.
Upon locating the alleged victim, he informed the police that Lee — to whom he is related — purportedly pointed a gun at his face after forcefully entering his workplace, asking him, “[Y]ou want to die today?”
The criminal complaint indicates that during the confrontation, the man was injured, and his 2-year-old granddaughter was shot in the chest. According to WITI, the child is anticipated to recover.
The man recounted to the police that while he was in the kitchen area of the business preparing milk for his granddaughter’s cereal, Lee allegedly appeared, and they engaged in a casual discussion. The interaction turned violent when Lee drew a gun. The victim told police that “he instantly attempted to redirect the gun upward and recalled several shots being fired.”
Police said the man could not remember what happened to the little girl during the alleged scuffle. The complaint stated that another person became involved and, along with the victim, they got the gun away from Lee and “threw it against a tree” before asking someone to call 911.
When police interviewed Lee, he told them that he believed the man he confronted was sending his wife sexual texts, which he said he found while going through his wife’s phone. According to the complaint, “Lee said he decided he wanted to kill [the victim] and then kill himself.” He stated that he did not intend to harm the little girl and “did not know” that he allegedly shot her.
Lee’s wife was also interviewed by police, and she denied that she was having an affair with the alleged victim or anyone else. She told police that she and her husband had an argument the week before the alleged shooting during which he accused her of having a relationship with the victim.
Lee was charged with attempted first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree reckless injury and booked into the Sheboygan County Jail. He is being held on $2 million cash bond. His next court date is scheduled for Sept. 15 with a preliminary hearing scheduled for Sept. 17.
