Wausau (WQOW) - Police are connecting the dots between two men at the center of separate shootings in Wisconsin, one of which happened in Eau Claire.
Christian Peterson, from Wausau, was shot and killed by Eau Claire police earlier this month. He had led police on a high-speed chase, allegedly broke into a home, stole a vehicle and then tried to car-jack the driver of a truck at gunpoint.
Wausau police now say that gun was stolen. Gun shops in Wausau and Tomahawk were broken into recently. Police say 55 guns were stolen. So far, 10 have been recovered. "Of those recovered guns, two have been used in other crimes... one with the homicide in Weston and the Wausau resident killed by police in Eau Claire,"said Chief Jeff Hardel, Wausau Police Department.
The murder in Weston happened on Saturday night. A young woman was shot and killed. The suspect was arrested in Clark County. Police believe that suspect and Christian Peterson knew each other. Police also believe whoever has the rest of the stolen firearms could be trying to sell them or trade them for drugs.
The DCI investigation into the shooting in Eau Claire could wrap up soon.
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WESTON (WAOW) - A man has been charged in a Weston murder investigation.
This case could also be connected to a fatal police shooting in Eau Claire that left a Wausau man dead.
Richi Vue, 21, of St. Paul faces several charges including first degree intentional homicide. Everest Metro Police say Vue shot and killed 20-year-old Lee Xiong on Saturday night at the Aspen Pines Apartments in Weston.
Police say Vue was arrested about five hours after the shooting when he was spotted driving a stolen truck. Officials say he led police on a multi-county chase that ended in Clark County.
On Monday afternoon, Vue appeared in Marathon County court. He's charged with first degree intentional homicide, felony theft of a firearm, and attempting to flee or elude a traffic officer, among others.
Authorities say there were three people in the apartment the night of the shooting, including the victim, Vue, and a 14-year-old witness.
According to the criminal complaint, the 14-year-old witnessed the shooting, heard the gunshots and saw the victim not breathing.
According to court documents, Vue had been dating Xiong and staying with her family. The criminal complaint also states the shooting happened after Vue and Xiong got into an argument about buying and selling drugs. According to court documents, Vue shot Xiong with a .40 caliber handgun in the neck.
"It highlights the fact that drugs and guns don't mix," said Assistant District Attorney LaMont Jacobson.
Police say Vue left the scene in a stolen truck, but he was arrested about five hours after in Clark County when he crashed the truck in a wooded area.
"All the agencies in the in the county pretty much responded to the Highway 29 corridor and with the vehicle information we had they were all looking for that, so the communication was paramount in locating the suspect and subsequently taking him into custody," said Everest Metro Police Captain Clayton Schulz.
Everest Metro Police say the black Ford truck had Minnesota license plates and was stolen from a Wausau dealership in September. Police also say they found two handguns at the crash scene.
Police also said after the shooting Saturday night, they found drugs and drug paraphernalia in the Weston apartment.
Vue is scheduled to be in court again later this month. His bond is set at $1 million.
Prosecutors said more charges are possible.
Vue's attorney had no comment on the case.
This murder case could be connected to fatal police shooting in Eau Claire.
Police say Vue is connected to Christian Peterson, the Wausau man who was shot and killed in Eau Claire earlier this month.
According to the criminal complaint, Vue took stolen handguns and the stolen Ford truck from Christian Peterson just weeks ago. Police say Peterson tried to steal a truck at a Culver's restaurant in Eau Claire. Officers say Peterson was shot when he refused to drop a gun. He later died from his injuries.
Police say Peterson had escaped from the Marathon County Jail last month during a work release.
Richi Vue
Christian Peterson
