A two-hour standoff with an armed man at the Wittenberg Shell station ended peacefully Tuesday afternoon with the man’s surrender, according to the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department.
Authorities received a panic/hold-up alarm, along with verbal reports, that a gunman was inside the station just before 2 p.m., the Sheriff’s Department said.
Authorities said a 28-year-old Gillett man had entered the station and threatened law enforcement, but did not demand money.
The suspect permitted all individuals within the area to leave the building except a lone worker. A Sheriff’s Department hostage negotiator successfully talked the suspect into letting the employee go just after 3 p.m.
Shawano County officials, with the assistance of the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, secured the area and closed U.S. Highway 45 for the duration of the incident.
Nearby Wittenberg-Birnamwood School District elementary and high schools went into lockdown for about 45 minutes as a precaution, according to school officials.
The hostage negotiator successfully encouraged the suspect to surrender about 4 p.m. It has been confirmed that the suspect was armed with a handgun, the Sheriff’s Department said.
“The suspect in the incident is in custody, and his well-being will be assessed,” Sheriff Randy Wright said.
The gas station, at 413 N. Genesee St., is in the same building as a McDonald’s.
No additional details were being released Tuesday afternoon.
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