Buffalo Grove mother shot in 'random act' on I-90/94 in Wisconsin

Rob Elgas Image
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
Suburban mom shot in Wisconsin
Tracy Czaczkowski, a mother of two from Buffalo Grove, was shot when police say a murder suspect unloaded three rounds in to an SUV with her family inside.

DEFOREST, Wis. (WLS) -- A suburban mother was shot while riding in a car on the way home from the Wisconsin Dells.



The victim's two children and husband were also in the car when shots were fired on Interstate 90/94 near Lake Delton, Wisconsin.



Tracy Czaczkowski, a mother of two from Buffalo Grove, was airlifted from the highway after police in Wisconsin say a murder suspect unloaded three rounds in to an SUV with her family inside.



"The first round entered the passenger side of the vehicle and lodged inside the door, the second round entered the front passenger window and struck the neck of that passenger," Sauk County Sheriff Chip Meister said.



For nearly 20 miles, police say the suspect and his two brothers sped down Wisconsin roads. Witnesses said they were throwing out beer cans before police used road spikes to stop them.



"He starts chucking beers out the window at us, and then I put my head down to take down his license plate, and he started shooting," said Gjuana Huewitt, a witness.



Caught in all the chaos were Tracy Czaczkowski, her husband and their two children.



Friends say they were coming home from a weekend at the Wisconsin Dells, heading back to Buffalo Grove. The children and Tracy's husband were not injured.



"I believe at this point in time this was a random act," said Dane County Sheriff David Mahoney.



Two Columbia County sheriff's deputies shot the 20-year-old suspected in a murder in West Allis.



Law enforcement said earlier Monday that Tracy Czaczkowski was in critical condition.



The suspect hasn't been formally charged and authorities have not released his name. He also remains hospitalized in Wisconsin.



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